American Sniper review

[kaiai]

American Sniper is a biography of Christopher Kyle, dubbed as America's "most lethal sniper with the most recorded kill of 150" from acclaimed director Clint Eastwood (Jersey Boys, J.Edgar) sourced from Chris Kyle's own autobiography (co-written by McEwen and DeFelice) and scripted by Jason Hall. The film stars Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller, and Kyle Gallner.

The project was green lighted by Warner Bros in May of 2013 to be directed by Steven Spielberg (Lincoln, War Horse). Spielberg had a grand vision of the film and decided to broaden to film to involve an "enemy sniper" character and major screenplay revisions that ballooned to almost 160 pages. Due to budgetary constraints, Spielberg didn't think that he would be able to bring his film to light and dropped out on August 5, 2013. Sixteen days later it was reported that Clint Eastwood signed on to direct the film and production was scaled back to more reflect its initial budget of $60 million.

The film has a backdrop of war and violence that permeates Iraq and the dangers American servicemen faces from almost every element they encounter on a daily basis, be it a burka clad woman, an innocent-looking child, or an old man just crossing the street. But the movie is not a war movie, but rather an exposition of one man's journey of self-discovery through war and back.

American Sniper is well crafted and shot with a minimalist approach- something that Eastwood is known for as a director. He does not employ many takes yet his shots are very precise even though he allows his actors a considerable amount of freedom. He takes on average of no more than 6 takes per scene and is known to loathe rehearsals. During filming he was quoted as saying, "I'll shoot a scene with minimal or no rehearsal. I love that moment when you first see the mechanism of the actor being revealed for the first time on camera. That moment excites me for some reason." He's also fond of saying, "That's enough of that shit." rather than "cut" on wrapping up a scene.

Bradley Cooper (American Hustle, The Hangover) buffed up and gained forty pounds for his role. Sporting a full beard and speaking with a Texan twang, he is an imposing Chris Kyle. Cooper is effective as a tortured soul. There is always the question whether Kyle had a death wish or was it true altruism that led him to return repeatedly for his numerous tours of Iraq.

Stateside, as Kyle returns to his family, he is sometimes in a catatonic-like state with eyes wide opened wandering into space, vacillating between guilt and comfort. The guilt he feels is from not being there with his comrades. The comfort is the fact that he is home, safe and sound, with his family. There is so much anguish that Eastwood is able to elicit from Cooper which captured the essence of Kyle.

There are multiple scenes in the movie where Kyle is conflicted over whether to shoot a potential insurgent. A mistake/hesitation on his part means death for American servicemen and he has only a few seconds to make that life and death decision. What if he kills someone innocent? He would have to live with those mistakes. Such a burden to bear for Kyle and the pain shows with Cooper's nuanced layered emotional portrayal.

The source material used by screenwriter Hall for the film is based on numerous interviews he had with Kyle and Kyle's autobiography, American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History. The movie has a quasi-documentary feel and perhaps this is by design. Facts are presented in a matter-of-fact manner without embellishments. In less capable hands, the movie would have floundered aimlessly but with Eastwood's steady directing, the movie is taut, engrossing, heartfelt and thought provoking.

The film is quite long, clocking in at 132 minutes. Yet, the tale of Kyle's life and exploits are fascinating to watch. Not a frame was superfluous. The audience is led through flashbacks from his childhood, his rodeo days, his enlistment, his four tours in Iraq, and his troubled family life.

American Sniper is not for everyone due to its underlying thematic elements of war and bloodshed, albeit the non-graphical nature of such scenes. The film will stay with you long after the ending credits rolled.

Definitely recommended.

Rating 8/10