Friday, January 30, 2015

Movie Review Madness: American Sniper


Pennsylvania boy Bradley Cooper and English rose Sienna Miller are darn good actors. They pull off Texan in American Sniper without a fake drawl. Number one in the nation, this movie directed by Clint Eastwood deserves its Oscar nomination and perhaps has a chance to win. It’s sneaking up in the opinion polls. This is based on a true story, and the book of the same name.  

Chris Kyle, an all American Texas boy, had a good eye as a hunter under his father’s direction. Then as a Navy Seal, under Uncle Sam’s eye, Chris Kyle is credited with the most kills of any sniper in history. His four tours in Iraq are a portrait in heroism, and, as the movie shows, a portrait of a very human mortal man. Clint Eastwood guides this movie in an objective fashion – no obvious agenda shows. We have a lot of reasons to admire Chris Kyle, and a lot of reasons to say, “Time to say stop, time to go home to your wife and kids. It’s okay.” Eastwood shows the pressure on soldiers, and the effects of battle.  

Bradley Cooper is fantastic and very worthy of his Oscar nomination. He’s a gung-ho young man who matures before our eyes, and ages into a weary wary man. From what I understand, he captured the essence of the real Chris Kyle. American Sniper is superbly filmed, and keeps you on the edge of your seat. You inhale and exhale with Kyle, and you pray that a kid does not pick up a rocket launcher. The tension is palpable and the movie audiences are quiet, totally absorbed in the action. The performances are all nuanced, not stereotypes. This is a rich film, and a snippet of history.  

American Sniper is very worthy of the big screen. You’ll come away with your own opinions of war and its human aftermath, etc. But you won’t question the powerful movie you saw and the excellence of Clint Eastwood’s American Sniper. You will exhale slowly as you exit the cinema.  

10 comments:

  1. I haven't seen this film advertised over here yet. I'll keep an eye open. Went to see The Theory of Everything about Prof. Stephen Hawking the other day. That was brilliant but heartbreaking.

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  2. It's eerie how much Bradley Cooper looks like him.
    Ann

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  3. Smarticus and I just saw "American Sniper" on Wednesday! Talk about powerful. Even though I'd seen those images of the funeral procession when it happened in real life, it still got to me. Excellent movie.

    And I hope you have an excellent weekend!

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  4. I don't know if you had the same ads for it in America as we do in Australia, but our ads made it look very tense. They just showed the scene where the nun hands the grenade to the kid.

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    1. yes, those ads are correct and it is very tense and intense. Not a peep from the audience.

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  5. Our son also thought it was a very powerful movie. I hope we see it before the Oscars. I'll bring lots of Kleenex with me. Excellent review, Joanne!

    Julie

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  6. I know it will be a stunning movie, but I'm reluctant to watch it. I believe there will be many sleepless nights for me after.

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  7. I've heard a lot about this one. It sounds really good, but like Liza said, I'm a little hesitant to watch it. Thanks for the review!

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    1. for Daisy and Liza - it is intense but such a good movie and worthy of thinking about.

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