Review: "American Sniper" by Clint Eastwood.

"American Sniper" is a 2014 American film directed by Clint Eastwood. It is based on Chris Kyle's true story. You can find the full plot here.

At first, Kyle was a cowboy. Then he decided to sign up to become a Navy Seal. He left his pregnant wife to go and fight as a sniper in Iraq. War changed him in an evident way. Whenever he returned back home, he felt he was useless and incapable to save his country. It gives us a slight idea of how war change the mind of people and drive them crazy.

Kyle earned the nickname "Legend" because he made several kills. He felt the gravity of  responsibilities towards his companions and towards his own country. He struggled between being a good father and a good soldier. Many people deal with this kind of problem, even nowadays.

Bradley Cooper as Chris Kyle

Unintentionally, the audience make a distinction between the good guys (the Americans) and the bad ones (the Iraqis, no distinction between terrorists or civilians - a really current theme, don't you think?), and they are often led to support the good side that is fighting for a "good cause". As if during a war there are good or bad reasons to fight.

The cast was pretty good (Sienna Miller, Kyle Gallner, Sam Jaeger, Jake McDorman) but the cutting edge is the main character: Bradley Cooper.

In this movie, he excelled himself. In other films, like "Silver Linings Playbook" or "American Hustle", he did a good job, but he gave me the impression that he underestimated himself and his own work. Mr Cooper often said that people didn't think he was a real actor, but surely the audience will change their mind this time. 

Bradley Cooper and Sienna Miller
as
Chris Kyle and Taya Renae Kyle

Now, we just have to wait the Oscar nominees on 15th January to see what the jury thinks about "American Sniper" and many other really good films currently in theaters.