Controversy aside, everyone must see this movie period!

Rating: 10/10 (19 January 2015)

I'm going to begin to look forward every year to January. For the past two years at least, the best films I ever see are always in late December and early January. Its not necessarily due to the Oscars or Golden Globes...I don't always agree with their picks but it seems like some of the best work is done in the latter part of the year. I suppose it shows a maturity on my part that the summer Blockbusters aren't always what win me over anymore. I was disappointed that once again I made it through 2014 without handing out a single 10 and now in one weekend in January I am handing out TWO solid 10/10's on two 2014 films. I hesitated on both of them because its a rare thing for me to hand out tens but I have to go with my gut. American Sniper was mind blowing. It is emotional and beautifully shot, it is heart wrenching, nail biting and it is the perfect blend of mainstream action with based on a true story military biopic (similar to what Lone Survivor did.) The cast is fantastic (led by an absolutely awe inspiring performance by Cooper) and Clint Eastwood (who I once idolized and has slipped from my graces lately) proves he still has an eye for making films.
Bradley Cooper has been Hollywood elite for some time now. He has really climbed the ranks and he is proving himself to be versatile and charismatic. Cooper as Chris Kyle though is just incredible. He is driven and heroic and compassionate and determined and patriotic and just commands presence on screen, never mind his physical transformation as he looks massive bulked up. Even in pictures of Chris Kyle you can see Cooper worked at capturing who he was and he deserves his Oscar nomination. Sienna Miller is also very good as his devoted wife who shows a lot of incredible emotion and you really feel for her in her situation. Their chemistry together is fantastic and she deserves a lot of recognition as well. Despite two amazing lead performances don't count out the supporting cast because these guys were equally as amazing and had some incredibly emotional scenes. Jake McDorman, Kevin Lacz, Cory Hardrict, and Eric Ladin were amazing as Kyle's fellow Seals. Unlike many other bio-pics (and the reason I think for the film's record-breaking financial success) is the fact that the film blends together bio-pic with mainstream action. There are some genuinely terrifying villains in this film played by Mido Hamada, Sammy Sheik and Navid Negahban. These three guys at various points in the film are terrifying and the idea that they are even loosely based on reality is sickening. The rivalry between Cooper and Sheik as enemy snipers is enough for an entire film on its own.
I get the controversy behind this film. I even understand it. I just don't care. I'm not getting involved in it and I'm not letting it effect my opinion of this movie. I am not here to discuss whether Chris Kyle was the hero some say he was. I went to see a film and it was moving and entertaining and incredibly well made and I judge it on those basis. For those of you who insist this is sort of right wing propaganda...I didn't see it. I am a Democrat and I have some issues politically with Clint Eastwood but this film wasn't pro-war...in fact I think it showed a very balance opinion of the pros and cons and how it truly effects a human being. The opening scene of this film when Kyle is forced to make a decision between killing a young boy to save his fellow soldiers is gut wrenching. I don't think the film is entirely realistic and it even feels very mainstream but that also doesn't take anything away from how great this film is. This movie will be a classic and you absolutely must see it now!! 10/10