Perhaps the best Film on the war in Iraq

Rating: Null/10 (18 April 2017)

There are not many films that have come out worth mentioning on the War in Iraq. The Hurt Locker although Oscar winning suffered tremendous criticism from Veterans pointing out the outlandish inaccuracies portrayed in multiple scenes. Six years later we get American Sniper, a film made by a man who actually served in our Military. Although this films primary focus is on Chris Kyle - "the deadliest sniper in U.S. History" it is still a film about the war in Iraq.
From the opening scene we are dropped into another world. The call to prayer, the dilapidated buildings, and streets filled with trash. We see U.S. troops patrolling and preparing for urban operations and then meet our main character providing overwatch from a hidden rooftop. The scene sets the tone for the rest of the film - which is not concerned with Political Correctness nor sparing us from the gruesome details of this war.
Bradley Cooper does an excellent job portraying in my opinion an ordinary man who did some extraordinary things. I don't believe Clint's intent in making this film was to worship Chris Kyle or the Navy Seals for that matter but to make a film that all Veterans could relate to in one way or the other. Many Vets experience difficulties with their wives when they are deployed whether they experience combat or not - it is a sacrifice. All Vets have to deal with adjusting to home life after they return from a deployment. The strength of Cooper's portrayal of Kyle was showing us someone the vets can root for. A man who loved his country, hated the evil that threatened us, and was willing to do something about it. Although I do not believe everyone is called to serve in the U.S. military I truly believe it was Chris Kyle's calling to do what he did. Was he a perfect man? Of course not but the film shows I believe that from a young age he was being Guided to fulfill this destiny.
One area of irritation I found in this film was the constant bitter tone of Sienna Miller in what seemed like every scene of their marriage except for the ending. I'm sure there were moments like these but I'm sure there also had to be moments of great joy that were perhaps left out for the sake of time. Overall this film is absolutely worth seeing, whether you served or not. Although it is not the best war film ever made, I believe it to be the best film on the war in Iraq so far. I believe we will have others in time and hopefully one day just as Oliver Stone, a Vietnam Vet gave us Platoon - An Iraq war Veteran will one day give us a film that truly shows what our boys went through over there. Thank God for men and woman who are willing to serve in the Military or in any way that helps our country.