Patriot aims
Clint gets back on target... AMERICAN SNIPER OUt NOW DVD, BD
With most modern war movies so careful to stress the tragic personal consequences of combat, it’s rare to see one that doesn’t bog down in moral quandaries. But that’s exactly the case with American Sniper.
Chris Kyle – a real-life US Navy SEAL sniper with over 160 confirmed kills – is as straight-up and uncomplicated as they come, shrugging off suggestions by the Navy doctor that he might suffer from PTSD . Instead, when asked why he signed up to fight for America, he replies “Because it’s the greatest country on Earth and I’d do everything I can to protect it.” When asked if he has a saviour complex, he says “No, I just want to get the bad guys.”
And it makes for a refreshing take on a somewhat common story. Bradley Cooper layers the considerable bulk he put on for the role with brooding, unwavering fortitude, as Chris Kyle bears the familiar marital strain that comes with military service. But in this instance, Kyle’s heavy conscience and guilt run second place to his actions because Clint Eastwood isn’t interested in focusing on the rights and wrongs here, only in telling Kyle’s story: a patriot defending his country, a family man with honour, a hero with a rising reputation and a determination to confront a villainous nemesis known as The Butcher.
With high tension and some hefty performances, Eastwood gives us a sturdily efficient, unshowy (one CG bullet aside) take on modern warfare. It is one-sided, of course, with every Iraqi character getting painted in some villainous light while ’Murica continues being Team Awesome throughout but, after so many recent misfires, it’s good to see Eastwood finally hitting his mark again. Featurettes explore the film’s fraught journey to the screen, but balance reverence with anecdotage, from scripter Jason Hall earning Kyle’s respect by punching out a lippy SEAL to Cooper doing his own weight-lifting – even more impressive when you see the size of the weights.