Film Review - American Sniper

Directed by Clint Eastwood, the film stars Bradley Cooper and Sienna Miller. It is based on the autobiography of Navy SEAL Chris Kyle (Cooper), the deadliest sniper in U.S. military history. Originally a cowboy from Texas, Kyle is profoundly affected by American efforts in the Middle East and vows to protect his country, even if it means going to unimaginable lengths. Back home, his wife, Taya (Miller), and his two children suffer during his long periods of absence, wondering if he'll make it back home, and if he does, in his right mind. I was reluctant to see this film (my seeing a Best Picture nominee for the first time the day before the Oscars is extremely rare) because I wasn't sure I condoned what it represented. Upon reading many reviews and commentaries assuring that the film did not take an overly patriotic stance and instead painted a complex picture of war, I decided to see it, because I always look to see all Best Picture nominees. However, I still found the film very biased and one-sided. In the film, Kyle is portrayed as an American hero who made very few mistakes and was, and felt, completely justified in his actions. I'm certain that in real life, he felt more morally conflicted (as he should). I was very disappointed about the film's very clear hero-villain characterization of the two sides, because the reality is that nothing is ever that black and white. This is why war films, especially about the Middle East, are so tricky; I understand that an American film may have a certain (maybe even subconscious) agenda, but I didn't feel like this film portrayed reality. It wasn't completely the fault of the filmmakers, who based the film on Kyle's autobiography, so it was bound to be skewed. But I just wish that this sort of film was made more responsibly, with more reflection and self-criticism about the U.S.'s own involvement and decisions. While not a bad film - I liked Eastwood's uniform direction and thought that the story had a good pace to it - I can't back it in good conscience. On another note: Bradley Cooper gives a decent performance, but it is nowhere near in caliber to David Oyelowo's (Selma), Ralph Fiennes' (The Grand Budapest Hotel) and Jake Gylenhaal's (Nightcrawler). It seems as though popularity is becoming a more and more important factor to getting a nomination, which is a shame, because that last spot should have definitely gone to one of those three (preferably Oyelowo, who was just remarkable). 

Should you see it: I'll leave it up to you.
Grade: C+