American Sniper Review

Director: Clint Eastwood

Cast: Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller, Luke Grimes, Kyle Gallner, Jake McDorman

Certificate: 15

Running Time: 132 minutes

Synopsis: Chris Kyle (Cooper) was America’s deadliest man, with the most confirmed kills of any Navy SEAL. Starting life as an average American, AMERICAN SNIPER chronicles his rise in the SEALs and how he balances his homelife.

Based on the bestselling book of the same name, AMERICAN SNIPER could immediately be identified as a very patriotic film. Just slapping the ‘American’ part of the title on a product is sure to escalate the box-office in its home country, but will the flag waving and empowered speeches deter audiences from elsewhere around the globe? Well, we can only hope not, as those audiences will be missing out on some hard hitting storytelling indeed.

Starting with an almost blase style, Eastwood tackles the opening of AMERICAN SNIPER with great subtlety. We’re dropped straight off in a warzone, but not one where bullets are flying past and explosions are going on, instead there’s a very procedural element which highlights being a soldier as a job, and with any job there are plenty of mundane moments. Throughout the running time Eastwood makes sure to give us more settled moments, which makes the carnage hit with more of an impact. Just as quickly though, Eastwood gives us that difficult decision that you’ve seen in the trailers where protagonist Chris Kyle is faced with a young child carrying a grenade. This single moment sums up the very core of AMERICAN SNIPER. War isn’t just ugly, it’s downright horrific and traumatising in ways many will never imagine.

As the film goes on we jump between Kyle’s home life and work. Despite being just a ‘simple’ American at first – with dreams of being a cowboy – it soon becomes apparent at just how complex Kyle is. He makes his way to Iraq and is hit with a sudden urge of responsibility that conflicts with the responsibility he should feel for his family. Not only that, but as Kyle’s legend begins to grow, he drifts between believing in it himself and also feeling immensely uncomfortable. It provides Cooper with many a grand moment, playing the tough and dedicated soldier who experiences PTSD. Kyle may not always be a completely likable or relatable character, but it’s those glimpses Cooper affords us that allow us to connect.

Outside the film, you’ll no doubt be questioning the validity of such a legend, as Kyle’s estate recently lost a court case, and other stories from Kyle’s life have been proven to be false. Thankfully, Eastwood and Cooper (who also serves as producer) keep things simple as provide us with a guiding light that suggests perhaps such events could cause somebody to be lost in their own legend. The exact stories may never be dealt with in the film, but we’re reminded of the human sacrifice made and that it isn’t just about the lives lost, but also the minds shattered. Kyle’s patriotism may also be simplistic, but we’re shown how Kyle is a man that needs such meaning in his life and he uses his beliefs to further the cause he believes in.

Breathtakingly shot, with Morocco standing in for Iraq, we’re shown a harsh world that lays the groundwork for many moments of nail biting tension. Tough decisions are made, and despite a few dialogue exchanges that spell disaster – never mention wife/kids/engagements when out on a mission – the film avoids predictability via an endless stream of passionate and blistering assaults on the senses followed by reflection and emotions.

Eastwood and Cooper work together seamlessly to create an intense and powerful piece of cinema that explores the heroism of one man. Carefully matching patriotism with more difficult and disturbing scenes makes this a well balanced and memorable film which is impossible to look away from. I’ll probably never know what it’s like to stare through a rifle sight at a small child, but AMERICAN SNIPER provides us with an uncomfortable and intense experience that is both a celebration of the men who do, as well as a commiseration of living in a world where they have to.

[usr=5] AMERICAN SNIPER is released on January 16th.