An Honest Assesment on American Sniper

Many that know me outside of this blog know that I have an interest in movies and the performing arts.  Indeed, for the past 14 years, I have been seeing at least one newer movie at the nearest multiplexes.  A lot of the time, the films I have seen have been quite good; a select few cases outside of restored prints of older films have been seeing amongst the best movies to have been made.  There are some times where the movie is not that great.

Fortunately, what I went to see last Friday, the Clint Eastwood movie American Sniper, was well made.  Clint Eastwood is a filmmaker and actor that  I tend to follow whenever a newer movie of his has completed.  Eastwood has not really made any clunkers; although his two previous films were not amongst the best in his portfolio.  I never got into Trouble With The Curve; and I felt Jersey Boys was an awkward misstep.  American Sniper, however, was a welcome return to form.  I tend to agree with a remark Richard Roeper once made on Clint Eastwood's filmography: even if he never acted in a movie, Eastwood would be considered one of the best filmmakers of his era. 

Currently, American Sniper has been the talk of the town in the entertainment industry.  The last two weeks, it was no. 1 at the box office.  This movie also has garnered seven Oscar nominations, including Best Editing (Joel Cox and Gary Roach), Best Actor (Bradley Cooper) and Best Picture of the Year (produced by Clint Eastwood, Bradley Cooper, Robert Lorenz and others).  Knowing Eastwood's reputation for being one of the few Republicans in Hollywood, conservative organizations are lapping this movie up as a success of what they consider "real" filmmaking or such. 

American Sniper is not without its problematic real life story, which I would say is one that I do not consider heroic.  In short, Chris Kyle (1974-2013) was an individual that went into the military ostensibly to serve his country.  In truth, Kyle also served in the Armed Forces to bring a better life for himself; the same went for his brother.  For a period of about five years or so (2003-2008), Chris Kyle served four tours of duty in Iraq; killing a record number of Iraqi and Middle East soldiers and snipers.  Honestly, such actions would be considered abhorrent outside of the military.  I will say, though, as is shown in the movie: Kyle after his fourth tour of duty did begin to have reservations about staying in Iraq for months at a time.  Indeed, he would suffer from PTSD shortly after coming home. 

A bit afterwards, Chris Kyle would later get better by starting charitable organizations, helping out other veterans, becoming more involved in his family and writing his memoirs.  A key visual aid to note is when you see Bradley Cooper towards the end sporting a goatee, and not a full beard.  Chris Kyle was killed in 2013 while trying to help a war veteran with a severe case of PTSD. 

Now, I do appreciate what Eastwood, Cooper, Cox, Lorenz, Sienna Miller who plays Kyle's wife, and others involved with the movie have done in not making this movie to be a revival of pro-war, prejudiced propaganda.  I do not think it could be considered an anti-war movie; but at the same time, it shows the effects of long term military involvement.  Only by coming home and living a life as normal as can be does a veteran find peace, I think.  Granted, Kyle would still consider those the military fought against the "enemy".  Yet that feeling was tempered significantly as the years went on.

Also to note is that American Sniper does not delve into the tall tales about Kyle that he mentioned in his memoir and in interviews; such tales that at best seem exaggerated.  To put this movie in a more realistic approach, there are only two music pieces I heard. One is a customary Clint Eastwood composition, and the other is near the end which is an Ennio Morricone piece.  So fortunately, none of the rah-rah fanfares are heard or even implied.  As well, the scenes of killing and maiming do not, I think, make viewers want to root for the good guys and rally against the bad guys.  The people in the audience I saw this with were rather shocked at some of the killings depicted; in particular, one killing of a young boy picking up a weapon. 

So, while Chris Kyle's story is not one I or others would emulate, and this movie appears more to the liking of political conservatives; American Sniper is none the less a well made and good movie.  For myself, it could have been made worse.  It could have been one of those low budgeted 1980s movies where veterans still think they are fighting in Vietnam.  It also could have been one of those fake movies mentioned in the Grand Theft Auto series come to life.  And in the hands of a lesser filmmaker, this movie would be utter horse hockey.  Clint Eastwood has not been one of the lesser sorts. 

Getting to another matter, there are many that think the recent success of American Sniper will prompt it to garner many Oscars.  I do not think that will be the case, especially for Best Picture.  For one thing, it was not nominated for Best Director.  Clint Eastwood has though won Best Director and Best Picture honors for Unforgiven and Million Dollar Baby, so this is not a snub in my opinion.  All the same, I can think of at least 12 movies I saw in 2014 that were better than American Sniper.  Indeed, quite a few of these have garnered Oscar nods, and will potentially win Oscars.

Boyhood
Selma
Interstellar
Guardians Of The Galaxy
Whiplash
Inherent Vice
The Drop
A Most Wanted Man
Birdman
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Foxcatcher
Life Itself

I may even add a 13th in Under The Skin, which I think you can still find on Youtube without charge.  For those to know; I think Boyhood will win Best Director (Richard Linklater) and Best Picture.  In the days to come, I will give my ideas on who might be winning an Oscar, along with showing what my hypothetical ballot for winners would be.  I will say that the potential for Bradley Cooper to snag an Oscar in this movie is indeed in the cards.  I shall explain more in a later time.

Well, I must apologize for not posting anything yesterday.  As of now, the snow has dissipated, though the wind is still around.  Thankfully, no electricity was lost.  Yet I was snowed in.  My thoughts and concerns and indeed prayers go out to those severely affected by Winter Storm Juno. 

I should have another post either tonight or tomorrow.  Thank you all again for taking the time to read and comment on this weblog.  I should have done this a while ago. 

Good Night and Stay Safe,

Robert

PS.  An Instagram and Twitter presence is forthcoming.  We just have to be patient and do this a bit at a time.