A Bland by the Numbers Biopic

Rating: 4/10 (2 February 2015)

2014. It appears to be the year where dozens of films based on true events have been released. For 'American Sniper' this becomes a fatal head-shot. It draws comparison immediately to more intriguing and better-structured biopics, which it cannot compete with.
It does have some good factors, which are in large part due to the leading actor Bradley Cooper. Cooper oozes swagger and charm when we see him. He is cool, calm and focused. He plays Chris Kyle who becomes increasingly haunted every time he guns down an opposing soldier or citizen. He is enlisted as a Navy SEALS Sniper. Throughout his career he was known as the deadliest American Sniper in history. During which he had 160 kills to his name and was something of a legend to the soldiers working alongside him. The look on his face after his first fatal kill stays with us long after the credits roll. This is extremely frustrating, as the majority of the film does not stick to our ribs in the way that Clint Eastwood intended.
Eastwood takes up directorial duties on this film and it is clear that he is a veteran Director and completely comfortable not just in front of the camera but behind it as well. The film is drained of almost any colour and contrast giving it a gritty bare bones feel. This is ironic as the film almost has a black and white look to it; it mirrors how Eastwood sees the subject matter. For me though the topic is not as clear-cut and Eastwood if he had lent the film an ounce of thought could have worked wonders on Chris Kyle's biopic. Sadly, he does not.
But at least he was thinking during the action scenes because they are terrific and by far the best element in this sub-par film. The tension echoes as if you are taking part in the war and are in Iraq. Kyle experiences extreme, brutal horrors during his time away from his wife played by Sienna Miller, in perhaps one of the most lackluster female roles of late. Miller has little to do and acts little more than the mother to Kyle's children. Without a shred of depth to call her own, we should feel something for her but instead are left out in the cold.
Unfortunately, as the film progresses the proceedings go from bad to worse. Which is quite atrocious to say the least. All the right talent is called upon, but I feel that the real person to blame is Eastwood. The man just cannot grasp a feel for the film. Should it be awe-inspiring or violent? Challenging or dumb? 'American Sniper' comes across as the product of two different Directors working against each other and cancelling the other one out. Or was this just Eastwood's own ego working against him? It is in fact the latter. What I mean by this comment is that the brutality of war conflicts with the dull relationship drama provided by Kyle's equally boring wife. The scenes regarding Iraq make for gripping, hard to watch viewing, whereas the scenes with Kyle's wife come across as bland and forced.
For anyone who has glanced at a Psychology book prepare to be dumb-founded and amazed during the film's two-hour runtime. Remember how soldiers of war after serving a long term of service returned to their families a complete wreck? How they were terrified and distraught regarding any form of physical violence? Of course you do. This film has not even heard of the term 'psychology' and what it implies. We never get the sense that Chris Kyle has actually changed from the cock-sure guy he once was; unless, you count staring blankly at a television screen to have had a profound effect on him. I for one second do not believe that the real Chris Kyle had no trouble adjusting to normal life after war. Everyone did. The fact that this is swept aside is criminal. Post-traumatic stress disorder should have been at the top of the list for Eastwood but it is ignored in favour of violence, violence and hey guess what? More Violence.
This brings me to the absolute worst, disgusting and vile factors that the film gets wrong; firstly, the fact that it has nothing but contempt and soaring love for Chris Kyle. In biopics I wish to be enlightened about everything a person did in their life. But, we are not told about the bad things that the man did! The crew expects us to think of Kyle as a God, I for one object. This is not how you treat any audience member with interest in a true story.
But lastly, and this element here makes me question whether Clint Eastwood really cared about his film, because they really do glamourize violence. Not in the way that Quentin Tarantino does, as that is stylized and fictional. In 'American Sniper' we are informed early on that you must treat violence with more violence. This disgusts me. How on earth can I root for a man that sees violence as the only way to solve his problems? I cannot and will not. For some this may not be troublesome, but for me it makes me physically sick. Is this the kind of message that America should be promoting? A definite no from me; this is propaganda at its worst. Clint Eastwood should be ashamed of himself. I am left in complete amazement as to how this film ever got made. I wish it hadn't.
In short, 'American Sniper' is a disgusting, biased, propaganda piece on the war of terror on Iraq. Needless to say it has the distinction of being the most disappointing film that I have seen in the cinema in the last five years. American Propaganda would be a more apt title. Clint Eastwood your time as a Director is up, hand in your camera.