American Sniper: in review

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Devon Sullivan, News and Sports Editor

Director and actor duo Clint Eastwood and Bradley Cooper had box office success with the release of American Sniper last month. This drama takes us into the world of Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, the most lethal sniper in U.S. History, and keeps you on the edge of your seat from the get-go. There’s been controversy over the film, which is Eastwood’s directorial piece. Some say that the story is propaganda for the U.S. Armed Forces, while others claim it to be a film that berates Muslim culture. Regardless what side you’re on concerning the moral discourse prompted by the release, Sniper is a movie that honors the man that the movie was based upon, that leaves you intrigued and in suspense until the very end.

As the lights in the theater go down after the final trailer has played, the viewer finds themselves looking over the shoulder of legendary sniper, Chris Kyle (Played by Bradley Cooper). With thirty seconds into the movie, Kyle and the audience are faced with a moral crisis: shoot the unconfirmed enemy (a mother and an eight year old with what looks to be a grenade), or run the risk of having American forces blown to pieces. This type of suspense resounds throughout the film. Tense situations permeate the movie, with perfectly timed bits of background knowledge about the history of the war and Kyle’s origin, thrown in for the audiences benefit. Eastwood made sure to present Kyle’s story as it was, rather than directing each scene with the intention of making the audience feel a certain way about the justice, or injustice, of modern warfare.

Cooper’s acting abilities shine through the film. At the beginning of the film Cooper stands tall as a new SEAL recruit, but the impact of four tours in Afghanistan weighs on Kyle, as Cooper looks drawn and fatigued as the feature progresses. I’d never heard the name Chris Kyle before this film, but left feeling the movie provided me with enough information to formulate my own opinion. The dichotomy on the morality of the film is a valid discussion, but I put personal opinion aside and focused more on the dedication to outstanding special effects and pyrotechnics. Cooper’s ability to convey so much emotion left the audience with a truly passionate reaction, one way or another.