American Sniper: Movie Review

Oscar-winning director Clint Eastwood's tribute film to Chris Kyle, the most lethal sniper in United States history, is an honorable one. Nominated for six Academy Awards, American Sniper continues the decorated filmmaker's legacy of heartfelt and heart-wrenching war dramas.

At the center of the film's heart beats Bradley Cooper's Oscar-nominated performance as the courageous, yet troubled Navy SEAL sniper. This true story film boasts an R rating, featuring war violence and offensive language, so caution is advised.

THE MOVIE IN A MINUTE

Raised in the countryside of Texas, Chris Kyle (Cooper) knows his role in life—to protect. But it's not until the terrorist attacks of 9/11 that he comes to realize his place as a United States Navy SEAL. A brand-new husband, Kyle is shipped off to Iraq for the first time. His critical mission is to cover troop movements as they clear buildings of insurgents in hostile areas. Even in the midst of nail-biting danger, Kyle holds true to his call and to one promise: “leave no man behind”. But after his second, and third and fourth tour of duty, Kyle finds it increasingly difficult to fully return home to his wife (Sienna Miller) and kids, and leave the battlefield behind.

THE GOOD AND BAD IN AMERICAN SNIPER

“Legend” is the nickname Kyle earned as he protected his brothers-in-arms during his four deployments to Iraq. And it's that courageous commitment that comes through in Eastwood and Cooper's intense film about the battlefields waged by men and women in service in the “trenches” and at home. More than a war movie, American Sniper is an examination of the personal cost of war, the unseen wounds that often go untreated.

Cooper and Miller give noteworthy performances that compel you to consider the consequences of being a soldier and loving one. Though at times a slow-going movie, American Sniper strings together moments that you will not soon forget, including an arresting scene when an insurgent leader gets hold of a family he suspects of betrayal.

American Sniper is rated R for strong and disturbing war violence, and language throughout including some sexual references. Moviegoers should approach this movie with extreme caution. Eastwood's recount of Kyle's story does not gloss over the cost of war or the brutality faced on the front.

IN THE END

American Sniper is beautifully shot and superbly acted, but it's not a movie for the faint of heart. It is only recommended for mature audiences who understand the extremes a rated-R war movie.