American Sniper

"American Sniper" was a solid film, featuring a strong lead performance by Bradley Cooper (as Chris Kyle, the legendary Navy Seal sniper who kept many US troops safe through strategic sniping in military engagements on the ground by soldiers after 9/11), and Sienna Miller was also good in a supporting role as Chris's wife, Taya. Director Clint Eastwood keeps things going with solid movie storytelling and pacing, keeping viewers engaged in the moral quandary facing snipers having to make split-second decisions to protect their own while exercising judgment to minimize the body count whenever possible. This "calling" takes its toll on Chris, and the script examines the brotherhood of soldiers, and the strong need to have each other's backs (and to return to the battlefront by re-joining with additional tours of duty), in spite of their personal sanity and PTSD, and forsaking their family's wishes to stay stateside.

The ending provided a sobering reaction from my audience, so quiet, and respectful. That told me the film worked, it struck all the right chords for a war film, as it dealt with the aftermath of war.

I give it 3.5 stars, or a grade of B+.