How should we consider snipers: heroes or cold blooded killers? True patriots or war addict killing machines, who can’t live a happy life without the war? That’s what Clint Eastwood extremely anticipated war movie tries to find out. American Sniper is based on the real story and book of Chris Kyle, the best sniper of Navy SEAL so far.

Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle’s pinpoint accuracy saves countless lives on the battlefield and turns him into a legend. Back home to his wife and kids after four tours of duty, however, Chris finds that it is the war he can’t leave behind.

That’s the main dilemma behind Clint Eastwood’s latest war movie, where a war addict sniper is craving for more and more tour of duties. Since Eastwood stopped playing cowboys and macho detectives, he proved countless times already that he’s also an excellent director – especially in the field of war movies – so I was anticipating this movie more than any others this year.

A sniper elite

Eastwood’s main dilemma must have been how much he should stay true to the original story and character of Chris Kyle and which point of view he should represent while telling Kyle’s story. While I understand Kyle’s motives, and I am sure, he acted in his country’s best interest by saving countless lives, a bit more nuanced approach would have been welcome for the sake of realism.

Read more: Jack Reacher movie review

Kyle is a true patriot, we get that, and he acts for saving his fellow soldiers we get that too. He also stops being a sniper and joins the troops when he feels like it – well, this part in the movie was a bit unbelievable. However – since we are talking about a film based on a true story this might have actually happened.

Moral dilemmas

Kyle also feels himself terrible when he have to shoot children or woman to protect his fellow soldiers but in the end he feels that his acts are justifiable. While I don’t agree with some criticisms saying that it’s all propaganda, make no mistake: this movie is still not on pair with Apocalypse Now!, The Platoon or Black Hawk Down.

Still, the war scenes are intense and thrilling and very well directed – especially the one, which takes place in before and during a sandstorm. Kyle’s hunt and “duel” against the former Olympic sharpshooter turned Iraqi insurgent sniper is especially well done – even if it’s a bit similar to the one of Jude Law against Ed Harris.

There’s always the shadow of death stalking the American soldiers and Kyle himself and the gun fights are top notch. There’s even a scene in the film, which is a true nod to the Sniper Elite games, with the bullet camera and final hit included! Eastwood is clearly in own territory showing brilliant war scenes.

Home, bittersweet home

Bradley Cooper is also excellent in the role of Chris Kyle, strong in his beliefs, but also a war addict who feels impossible to tend to day-to-day life and responsibilities. When a young veteran recognizes him in the most innocuous circumstances back in Texas and keeps insisting he’s a hero, we can feel Kyle’s pain. This is the last thing he wants.

The problem with those back-at-home scenes however is that they tend to drag and they are sometimes also a bit corny. The scene when Chris meets his future wife is top gunish at best, and the other one with the fake baby is unfortunately pretty lame indeed – and not only because of the fake baby. Other scenes when Kyle’s wife has to phone to him during gunfights are much more intense, and better realised, yet there are maybe too many of those, which weakens the overall dramatic effect desired.

There’s also a scene which seems to taken straight from “that” other sniper movie: Enemy at the Gate – the one where Chris’s father is teaching his son how to take aim and fire with a sniper rifle. Since the movie is based in Chris’s life, I understand that this scene probably actually happened, but it still seems a bit funny after the same one in Jean-Jacques Annaud’s movie.

Straight bullet

American Sniper is a solid war movie, with excellent directing from Mr. Eastwood and great acting from everybody – especially Bradley Cooper. Still, sometimes it feels a bit too “patriotic” and I wouldn’t miss some back-at-home scenes either. Those are all matched however with gripping and intense war scenes which elevates American Sniper into the ranks of the best war movies.

-BadSector-