Very Good Movie - NOT a completely accurate biography - approach with an open mind!

Rating: 9/10 (26 January 2015)

This film really moved me. I let myself get caught up in the birds eye view of the war in the Middle East, as seen through the eyes of an American sniper. I thought Clint's direction and Bradley's acting were both very good. I have not served in the military, but my father, brother, and brother-in-law have. My brother and brother-in-law have both served overseas in varying capacities as part of the wars in IRAQ and Afghanistan. I really appreciate those who have signed up for duty, knowing that they could be called upon to fight in a war, and then went and served their country when called upon. Wars are scary. I didn't sign up, but I appreciate those who have. I imagine that this movie does a pretty good job of showing what it must have been like for some of the men and women who had to go to war in my place.
Judging from the reactions of some people like Michael Moore, Bill Maher, and many of those who have taken the time to write a review for IMDb, there are many people who do not like this movie at all. Primarily this dislike seems to stem from the fact that the movie isn't a complete biography, warts and all, of Chris Kyle the man; also, there seems to be disappointment that the movie doesn't address the larger political context of the war, that being the validity of the reasons for going to war in the first place. Although I understand these complaints, I still enjoyed the movie because of how I chose to approach the film. I didn't go into the movie expecting to see a completely accurate and faithful representation of Chris Kyle, the man. This is a movie, and the most truthful biographical films are not 100% faithful to those people and life events being depicted. The powerful film SELMA, also nominated for an Academy Award this year, is guilty of changing certain aspects of the events it depicts. A person with any ability to think should know going into films such as these that movies are NOT completely accurate portrayals of real human beings and events. Any viewer who sees this film and comes away thinking that Chris Kyle, the man, was a perfect person, who never makes mistakes, who never does anything wrong - is an American GOD so to speak - that viewer is simple-minded. I have to admit that based on some of his quotes that I've read, Chris Kyle, the man, sounds like he may have had some real problems. The film, which is about a soldier, shouldn't HAVE to address the larger context of the war, because that is not Chris Kyle's, or any other soldier's decision.
I approached this film as someone who appreciates that we have soldiers such as Chris Kyle, my brother and brother-in-law, the men and women from the local National Guard unit where I live, etc., etc. who have signed up for duty and then performed that duty, at risk to their lives, when called upon. The people I know are not going to the Middle East because they want to kill "brown" people. They went to where they were called to go, so that I could keep doing what I do. I thank them for that, and that's why the movie affected me the way it did.