American Sniper

A number of Clint Eastwood’s last few films as a director have been blighted by endless continuity errors and his over-resistance on terrible CGI. Things take a turn for the better here though, with his (very loose) adaptation of the memoir American Sniper, which tells the story of, reportedly, the US military’s most lethal sniper in its history, Chris Kyle. Before we even get anywhere, if you want a debate on modern warfare, Iraq, Kyle’s legacy etc, then look elsewhere. This is a film review, not Radio Five Live. The film itself isn’t all that original in the story its telling, in the fact that what we have is the classic war two-hander – First the depiction of battle(s). Then the struggle to assimilate back into modern life. Eastwood has his hand on the tiller here in a much firmer way than what we’ve seen for a while and the film is confidently structured throughout. Though Kyle’s (portrayed by a bulked up Bradley Cooper) decent into post-traumatic stress disorder isn’t really fully explored at great length, when it’s touched on its done in a effective manner, especially in one great moment when the use of the noises of warfare are invoked to wrong foot the viewer (on that note, the sound editing is superb throughout). Cooper is good in the lead role, but the film is so focused on him that other characters barely register. Criticism by some (Americans, it should be noted) that the film is propaganda and akin to Inglorious Basterds Nation’s Pride are well wide of the mark. However, it’s got to be said that no other nation on Earth would make such a flag waving picture as this. So a solid, though not overly spectacular return to form for Eastwood. Having said that, this is an Eastwood directed film so it would be remiss to not highlight a few of the more ridiculous moments. Putting the “model baby” business aside (they had to use one in the film as the two babies slated for that days shooting couldn’t be filmed), I was tempted to go for the final shot taken by Kyle in the film which tips us into eye-rolling fantasy / video game land, but the stand out moment of stupidity has to be when Kyle is under heavy gun fire, deep into a claustrophobic battle with a number of his battalion, and he takes a personal phone call from his missus. At least they didn’t discuss what was for dinner, but still dumb, dumb and thrice dumb. Rating: 7/10.