This is not Eastwood's best movie... by far.

Rating: 6/10 (25 February 2015)

I would say that this is a patriotic movie with B movie hints. However the opening scene is grandiose and Cooper's performance is great. I've been impressed by the way he embodied Chris Kyle character.
The movie and the way it's shoot is irregular with great scenes but not enough to compensate the lacks from others. Sometimes you can have the feeling that they were short of budget (cf. the use of baby doll and some special effects that are too obvious). It is not that important but it increases the movie's fickleness.
To summarize I'd say that Eastwood has been lazy (and broke?) and that Cooper saved a mediocre movie.