I don’t know what I expected. American Sniper is the true story of Chris Kyle, the US Navy Seal credited as the most lethal sniper in American military history. It stars Bradley Cooper and it’s the first film made by his own production company, directed by Clint Eastwood. Despite the title and my familiarity with the real-life story, I don’t think I was prepared for so much… snipering. I agree, this admission is a little like coming out of 101 Dalmations and complaining that the movie had too many dogs.
The movie is based on Kyle’s autobiography and made with the help of his widow, Taya. She’s played in the film by Sienna Miller who I have to admit I never really thought could act but she’s terrific here. I guess I expected more art and maybe a little more depth and less pure war and flag-waving.
The battle scenes are chilling and there are a lot of them. Chris did four tours in Iraq and his compulsion to return time after time came from a sense of duty and a deep hatred for the “savages”, as those in the military called them. Cooper is nominated for an Oscar and he is excellent as Chris. He shows us that Chris was more than a killing machine and  how difficult it was for him to cope during his down time when he was expected to dial back his life to happy husband and father.
My lack of connection to the movie probably comes partly because Kyle’s personality is so far removed from my own. I can respect him and admire him in a way but the only thing he and I would have agreed on is that we need to do a better job of looking after veterans. They go overseas on missions they believe are noble and then come home and find they’re lost in red tape and turned away when they need their government. Taya started a foundation to attempt to fill some of the gaps. It’s called Chris Kyle Frog Foundation.  I’m also not surprised that Eastwood didn’t get a Best Director nod even though American Sniper is nominated for an Oscar for Best Picture. American Sniper is a good film but it’s not great. However, I do hope it shows that even the best sniper on the continent has a conscience about killing all of those “savages”.
Interestingly – and I’m not saying I agree – Michael Moore writes of his uncle being killed by a sniper in WWII. Moore tweeted last night that he grew up thinking of snipers as cowards who would shoot you in the back, not heroes. He seems to vehemently oppose the “sniper as hero” meme. Wondered what you made of that.
My theory has always been that these men go out to a war believing they’re doing something noble to protect family and country. They believe it and that’s enough for me. I actually know a real-life sniper quite well. He’s retired now. He has told me stories that make my skin crawl but he was in an us-or-them situation, good or bad, right or wrong, many times. Chris Kyle believed in what he was doing and did it very well. I choose not to put a moral judgment on him.
Thanks! One of the winners on last week’s trip was a sniper (ret.) from the Cdn Armed Forces. I didn’t get a chance to talk with him, but from what I was told, the guy was effective in his work.