See the world through the eyes of an American red-neck.

Rating: 9/10 (23 January 2015)

Wow this is a film that has polarised opinion - and I think incorrectly.
Let's get this out of the way first. The second Iraq war, which is where this film was based, was one of the most illegal and immoral wars in modern times for which the two main culprits (and those behind who were pulling the strings) should be behind bars in The Hague at the start of a life sentence (which, frankly, would be far less than they deserve).
BUT... the film is not about that. It is not a film about the Iraq War, it's a biopic about one soldier who fought in it. As such it takes his view of things, and sees it entirely through his eyes. And these eyes belonged to almost stereotype - a Fox News-watching, right- wing America-luvvin, Bible-toting, gun-carrying, Texan who sees the world in entirely black and white. Indeed had he not really existed I think the film might have been accused of wild exaggeration.
Remarkably he claims not to be a red-neck, though interestingly only on a technicality.
Indeed by all accounts if anything they calmed him down a bit, missing out his claims to have shot looters after Hurricane Catrina. Even so he still does come across as not very pleasant, nor particularly bright, describing the enemy in nothing but derogatory terms, really believing that but for him they'd be invading the USA tomorrow, and completely failing to imagine what he would do if the boot was on the other foot.
As such the film is close to brilliant. It really does capture Kyle in all his red-neck "glory" without going over the top, to the extent it seems that fellow red-necks love it.
But that is not all. Rarely has a film depicted the problems faced when the "hero" returns home so well, both the problems for him and those around him, and how only by being with fellow veterans does he begin to come down - as perhaps only they understand.
As for the in-theatre stuff, it is very well done indeed. Yes, the Iraqis come over as 100% evil one-dimensional moving targets - but that is how Kyle saw them, and this is a biopic (remember?).
Performances? Bradley Cooper, who is in just about every scene (as he has to be) is stand out. A remarkable performance he inhabits this complex but also simple character like a glove. He is superb.
So spend some time with this flawed individual, and be thankful I think that you never had to be with the real thing.