American Sniper Review

American Sniper, directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Bradley Cooper, details the life of Chris Kyle, a famed Navy Seal sniper who was credited with 160 confirmed kills during the Iraq War.  Kyle, born and raised in Texas, enlisted in the Navy following the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center, completed the arduous Seal training and subsequently served several tours of duty in Iraq.  He was known as “The Legend” by the many soldiers he protected during U.S. battles in Fallujah,  Ramadi and Sadr City due to his unparalleled skills as Navy marksman.  American Sniper, which can be seen as either a “pro-war” or “anti-war” film depending upon the viewer’s politics, does an effective job of illustrating the horrors of armed combat, as well as the effect it has on soldiers and their families back home.  This point is shown most clearly through Kyle’s relationship with his wife, Taya, played by Sienna Miller, which goes through many ups and downs due to the strains of Kyle’s military service.  The film also demonstrates the physical and mental effects of war on soldiers who return home following their service, an issue that is usually omitted from movies about military service.  American Sniper is a powerful movie with convincing acting by Cooper and Miller and intense fighting scenes directed by Eastwood.  The entire audience was absolutely speechless once the movie ended and remained quiet as they walked out of the theater, mostly out of shock.  This film is deserving for its several Oscars, including Best Picture and Bradley Cooper for Best Actor.