The story of Chris Kyle, a U.S. Navy SEAL, and sniper. His personal mission, to protect his brothers-in-arms. As an American Sniper, his pinpoint accuracy saves countless lives on the battlefield, and fuels countless stories of his courageous exploits.
Kyle’s reputation is growing behind enemy lines too, and it is not long before there is a price on his head, and he becomes a prime target for insurgents.
American Sniper is the ‘almost’ true story of these events. Some things have been changed for dramatic effect. Sadly this does not save the film from being self-centred, and the usual hype about America saving the world.
The battle scenes are boring, and do not draw the viewer in. The cinematography is all over the place, and it feels more like an amateur film by college students than a big budget movie with the likes of Clint Eastwood.
One does not find any sort of emotional engagement with the characters. Bradly Cooper and Sienna Miller bring acceptable performances, and these perhaps save the film, but there is no sense of urgency in battle, no sense of the post traumatic stress Kyle must have felt, and most relationships and emotions in the film are somewhat superficial.
There was a ton of hype leading up to the release of the film, and it does not live up to this. Action junkies are likely to enjoy it, as will any warm-blooded, patriotic American. For the rest of us, it’s somewhat hit and miss.
American Sniper opens 20 February 2015, in South Africa.
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