A mixed result

Rating: 6/10 (13 January 2019)

Based on the true story of Chris Kyle, an expert marksman and U.S. Navy Seal, Bradley Cooper portrays the main character who fought in the front lines during the Iraq War.
The first half of the movie is seen mainly through Kyle's viewpoint. He is a devout patriot and sees his mission as saving his country and its people. This is a fair viewpoint but the movie avoids the many counter-arguments happening at the time of that very divisive war.
The Iraqi people are mainly portrayed as the "evil bad guys". None of them has a chance to express their story of how they feel about a foreign military invading their country or how they might feel the need to defend their people as Kyle does about his people.
Thankfully, the film doesn't have a totally hawkish viewpoint. It is quite honest in the difficulties faced by soldiers after returning home. For Chris, this is mainly reflected by his wife, played by Sienna Miller, who is clear in her unhappiness about Chris' drive and how he has changed. Though Cooper gives a rather good performance, there could have been more depth and subtlety in the portrayal of someone who is driven while denying the effect of the traumas he has experienced.
At times, the film seems too long but it ends with a very moving finale that is felt well after the movie's completion. The ending also centers around an event that boldly and effectively takes place off-screen.