American Sniper (FILM REVIEW)
American Sniper
Film Review
by Kam Williams
Bradley Cooper Stars in Biopic Chronicling Sharpshooter’s Exploits
Navy Seal Chris Kyle served four
tours as a sniper in Iraq
between 2003 and 2008. Over the course of dangerous deployments to Ramadi, Sadr City,
Fallujah and other hot spots, he racked up enough kills to become the most
lethal sniper in the history of the U.S. military. Directed by the
legendary Clint Eastwood, American Sniper is a
reverential biopic chronicling the eagle-eyed sharpshooter’s enviable
exploits.
The film is based on Kyle’s autobiography of the same name, and stars
Bradley Cooper in the title role. Besides highlighting battlefield heroics, the
movie mixes in plenty of poignant flashbacks from the protagonist’s formative
years.
For instance, in those early childhood scenes, we see Kyle learning
to shoot from his father (Ben Reed), nobly protecting his little brother Jeff
(Luke Sunshine) from a playground bully (Brandon Salgado Telis), and piously pocketing
his dog-eared copy of the Bible while attending Church services. These telling
tableaus are obviously designed to provide hints at how such an exemplary
combination of character and skills might have been forged.
Another focus of the picture is Kyle’s relationship with his terminally-worried
wife, Taya (Sienna Miller). She’s raising their kids back in the States, but
often finds her long-distance phone chats with her hubby rudely interrupted by
everything from IED explosions to enemy fire. However, Kyle always attempts to
qualm his frazzled spouse’s fears with calm reassurances that he’ll survive the
ordeal.
This deliberate humanizing of the soldier
at the center of the story into a tenderhearted family man is what sets American
Sniper apart from other recent war flicks like Lone Survivor and The Hurt
Locker. Consequently, we really care whether this patriot will ultimately return
home safe and sound.
Kudos to Clint
Eastwood for fashioning such a moving and well-deserved salute to a true
American hero!
Excellent
(4 stars)
Rated R for
graphic violence, sexual references and pervasive profanity
Running time: 132 minutes
Distributor: Warner
Brothers
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