Disappointingly jingoistic

Rating: 4/10 (15 January 2015)

American Sniper disappointingly ramps up the propaganda message right from the start. The simplistic narrative - that America is the 'greatest country on Earth' - borders on the offensively banal. Bradley Cooper's strangely affected performance also reflects poorly on Eastwood's decision-making regarding this project. When taking into consideration the complexity of tone in previous efforts such as Letters From Iwo Jima, it is puzzling that Clint Eastwood directs American Sniper like a TV movie replete with stock supporting roles. At a time when movie-makers should be aware of a responsibility to represent America as more than a divine entity controlled by manifest destiny, it is worrying that one of it's greatest directors should resort to such hollow propaganda.