Chris Kyle: Gripping and Purposeful

Rating: 8/10 (31 January 2015)

Witnessing what I had watched in American Sniper, I was left baffled and speechless on seeing how one American soldier sacrificed so much for his family and country by fighting his way through the 2003 Iraq War. Being based on the popular memoir, I had to see what the film adaptation had in store.
Chris Kyle (played by Bradley Cooper) was certainly one accomplished individual. By enlisting for the Navy SEALs, he knew how much his life would change when his training would eventually make him a skilled sniper. Upon finding love in his would-be wife Taya Renae (Sienna Miller), things further complicate Kyle when he goes on to serving 4 tours in Iraq. At the same time trying to maintain his civilian life with his wife and 2 little kids who eagerly await for his return.
Regardless of his elder age, director Clint Eastwood did a splendid job taking the helm by putting Chris Kyle in the spotlight. He captured the inner struggles Kyle and his fellow SEALs went through in the War on Terror and didn't stray completely away from the 'civilian life' scenes as to ease the tension. In particular, I found the scene where Kyle made his first sniper kill on an armed woman and kid to be really significant. It's like you can tell he feels guilt and unnoticeably shaken on what he just did before him. Not to mention that small bible he carries in his pocket added a nice touch of symbolism. How? It seems to represent that no matter what circumstance he faced in childhood to adulthood, not once did he ever lose faith on what truly mattered.
Perhaps in some instances of the movie, the representation of the U.S. Serviceman or Navy SEAL is over-glorified and vain, but I say that Brad Cooper embraced the role proudly and really brought out the angst Chris Kyle and his comrades had to endure in such a harsh, war-driven environment. Comparing this movie to other past war films like Saving Private Ryan, The Great Raid, or Green Zone, you can feel just as much tension when you picture yourself in their shoes. I can literally hear faint weeping and silent conversations among the audience as triumph and tragedy graced the screen.
To conclude, you can tell Brad Cooper underwent rigorous training, but now I see what earned him his Oscar nod. Although several may debate that Chris Kyle doesn't deserve to be called a "hero," nevertheless Cooper channeled him marvelously and Clint Eastwood impressively displayed Kyle's imperfect, yet valiant efforts.