Politics aside - gripping movie about a dedicated soldier

Rating: 9/10 (23 January 2015)

Putting politics aside, this is a terrific movie about the war in Iraq. This isn't a movie about whether the war is right or wrong it is about an excellent sniper who is totally convinced he is protecting troops with his skills. Things are shown from his point of view and the Iraqis he kills even children are shown as the ones attacking the troops. So immediately the viewer is on his side. Subsequently there is a more questionable incident involving a family. Whether his instructions were just or unjust, we see how well he carried them out.
The screenplay is well paced. From the get go it is completely involving. Clint Eastwood's war movies have been rather draggy in the past but this one is almost like a different director was in charge. The civilian to battle switches are well balanced. It's more modern and matter of fact than 'Enemy at the Gates' which was a bit theatrical.
Bradley Cooper is transformed physically into a bulky soldier and his facial expression shows determination. He inhabits this role convincingly. Occasionally his version of a Texan accent was a bit hard to understand. Sienna Miller looks beautiful as a brunette here and she acts well invoking sympathy without overdoing it. She is talented and lovely and should be a bigger star than she is. Hopefully this will propel her to more leading roles. The soldiers on Kyle's team are played by Jake McDorman and Luke Grimes and you get to know them just enough to feel when they are killed.
The ending which everyone will know going into this movie is a problem. I can understand they didn't want to show the terrible tragedy of his being killed by a PTSD suffering vet and let Kyle go out as a hero. I think it should have been shown because it is such an integral part of his story and it would really bring home that the tragedy of the war goes on after the fighting is over. They do show injured vets and amputees but this was an opportunity to highlight psychological damage as well.
If you can put aside feelings about the correctness of the war this is a very good movie. It does show Kyle using the term savages to refer to Iraqis. If that's the way he was then might as well show how he was an unfortunate product of the times. Maybe by showing his total dedication it will make policy makers realize the responsibility they have in using such a skilled soldier in the proper way.