"You're gonna make a fine hunter some day."

Rating: 8/10 (25 January 2015)

Intense character study of the country's most prolific sniper. The point is made in the film that Chris Kyle's motivation came from trying to prevent terrorists from coming to San Diego or New York, a point that's lost on critics of the Iraq War and our current effort against ISIS and a host of similar minded extremist groups. Of particular note was the discussion around the dinner table with Kyle's father describing the difference between sheep, wolves and sheepdogs. I had never heard that analogy before and it seemed a fitting way to describe the way populations find themselves being categorized. The picture is a character study in the effects of war on a warrior; I didn't see it as particularly pro-war or anti-war, though one's filter will probably see it along political lines. The destructive effects of a soldier's life that affect his family is given the emotional treatment that's called for, and director Eastwood provides the steady hand a story like this deserves. Which begs the question of how Spielberg might have handled it. My understanding is he dropped out of consideration to direct the picture after the screenplay became unmanageable. A Liberal versus Conservative treatment provides plenty of food for thought and it would have been an interesting contrast to see. Nevertheless, what we have is the story of an American hero, defending the rights of critics who can only find hatred in their hearts for soldiers who love their country.