American Sniper – Review
Half-baked
I alwaze believed that military movies are not only usually entertaining films, especially if you’re an action junkie, but advertising for the military.
The latter ain’t a bad thing at all. I’m actually for it. Once upon a time, I was supposed to leave for boot camp after enlisting in the Army. But that’s a different story for another time.
American Sniper starts off with a civilian Chris Kyle (Bradley Cooper) living his pre-military life. After witnessing an attack on TV, he eventually enlists to be a Navy SEAL, one of the most elite special forces groups on the planet.
Watching this scene strongly resonated with me because when planes hit the World Trade Center on 9.11.2001, I wanted to do something. It wasn’t instant, but years later, I enlisted to be a Ranger, the Army’s special ops, well after infantry, of course.
The film then showcased a montage of a few of the most grueling drills that potential Navy SEALs have to endure. I consider it weeding out the weak. I’m pretty sure it was a SEALs saying, but it stuck in my head.
The more sweat and tears in training, the less blood in the field.
Even though Kyle was 25 (not 30 as the movie states) during SEALs training, he persevered through the physical pain and mental woes of training and utilized his past hunting skills to become an – spoiler alert – American Sniper. He becomes a legend, sniping many enemies before they kill his colleagues on the battlefield. We also witness Kyle’s civilian life, and his transition isn’t as seamless as he thinks.
The film, directed by Clint Eastwood, had a steady pacing and an interesting plot. As the title suggests, it is about a sniper. A sniper shoots. People die. If you can look past the violence and horrors of war, American Sniper hits the mark, but ain’t a bullseye.
Fun fact: American Sniper breaks two box-office records, grossing $105 million its opening weekend:
1.) Highest-grossing January opening
2.) Highest-grossing military movie