American Sniper

(*** out of five)

     For me, it's always hard to watch a movie based on a true story, especially when I know how it is going to end.  I think American Sniper really captured a crucial moment in American history and will captivate audiences around the nation.  Our nation enjoys patriotic movies, as we should.  The riveting story of Chris Kyle's service to our country is grounded in the roots of our soldiers.  The movie is entertaining, but does not seem as pivotal as other 9/11 movies.  Yes, I know, I can't really compare it to Zero Dark Thirty, but parts of the movie felt stagnant, especially when the movie constantly shifts from missions to his relationship with his family.
     Nominated for several Academy awards, I was actually impressed that Bradley Cooper was able to portray a soldier.  Sure, Silver Linings Playbook showed off his dramatic acting skills, but it still allowed him to have his comedic moments.  Don't expect any of that in American Sniper.  Cooper remains serious, intent, and ambitious towards his constant goal of protecting the United States.  He does not ever appear arrogant, and does not take compliments well.
     This movie is not for the faint of heart.  There are several gruesome scenes where I felt truly disturbed.  This is not necessarily a bad thing, because the facts of certain events remain accurate, but this is not a film you would want to take your kids to see.  I don't want to spoil anything, so if you are wanting to remain cautious, you can read the parent's guide here.
     While Kyle's story of being a sniper remains quite unique, the director also wanted to focus on what many soldiers go through in their life at home.  Kyle struggles to maintain a relationship with his family, not because he doesn't want to, but because he doesn't want to leave a task undone.  This eventually takes a toll on his mental health, but he seeks a way to fix this.
     Overall, it was definitely a film worth watching, but I didn't feel as moved by the story as I am sure the book he wrote would do.  I recommend seeing it in theater, and if you can't, see it as soon as it hits the shelves.  I do expect it to be in theaters a while as it is making a ton as the box office.  There is a lot of debate centered around the integrity of the story, but my review remains strictly to the cinematic elements.