This Means War

Rating: 9/10 (25 September 2015)

The most controversial, sought after, talked-about movie of the past year has been American Sniper. It excited self-proclaimed patriots, annoyed the PC gestapo, and beat Spongebob at the box-office. So what is the big deal?
Because all those who've seen it will tell you the same thing, it's an excellent movie. This thing is not going to leave my mind for a few days. Clint Eastwood, you're a hell of a director. He managed to get inside the mind of America's most lethal sniper, and show to us his demons. To those who sit there and think that it's a thankless, cowardly job, I'd ask you to kindly get your head from out of your ass. Chris Kyle is no saint, but he saved many of his fellow men, and protected his country. But in the process, he made many, terrible mistakes. Eastwood, I thought absolutely made sure not to make this movie a gung-ho, get-some, merica' love fest. It's just real life.
The war scenes are some of the best ever filmed, and hold absolutely nothing back. But, it's everything outside the battlefield that will surely haunt you. Here, we have a transformation of a Texas good-old boy, to an empty vessel staring into the abyss. War is a drug. Chris Kyle was a war junkie. Everyone tries to bring him back home, but time and again, he goes back to the desert. Each time, little by little, his soul is sucked from his body. By the end, just when you think he's been home long enough to have recovered, well.. we all know what happened.
If there's anything to criticize about this movie, it's the time it spent glossing over Kyle's work for veterans at home. That scene with the veterans is great, but it goes way too quick. Also, let us not forget the fake-baby. Folks, we aren't looking at a perfect movie.. but by God is it close.
It's an ice-cold slice of americana. The quintessential movie to those who are serving, and those who have served our country.