Years ago the actor Clint Eastwood uttered his now famous words, “Make My Day.”
Today the phrase could easily be attached to producer-director Eastwood’s latest contribution to the American cinema scene.
With AMERICAN SNIPER the 84 year-old filmmaker flawlessly lays bare the account of an American hero—a patriotic Texan named Chris Kyle.
Following the 9/11 attacks in New York City, Kyle enlisted in the Navy SEAL program determined to fight for his country and stand up to terrorists.
He became the most decorated marksman—make that sniper—in U.S. military history with a reported 150-plus confirmed kills to his name.
Kyle’s actions are credited with saving hundreds of U.S. soldiers’ lives.
His insatiable calling caused Kyle to serve four tours of duty.
Yet each tour in Iraq resulted in ever more pressure on his marriage as pregnant wife (Sienna Miller) increasingly struggled with Kyle’s choices not to return.
“You don’t know when to quit. I need you to be human again.”
That brings me to the film’s co-producer and star Bradley Cooper who absolutely captures Chris Kyle.
“Son, you’ve got a gift. You’ll make a good hunter some day.”
It’s a brilliant portrayal of the patriotic and celebrated hero’s short life, which included a gain of almost 40 pounds by Cooper for the starring role.
Kyle’s reputation and performance in Iraq made him the prime target of insurgents while living the creed to ”leave no man behind.”
It caused Kyle trouble on the home front where he was ever more distancing himself from his wife—and becoming ever more psycho emotional at every turn.
The real American Sniper
AMERICAN SNIPER raises the intensity with each combat moment.
Its ending will tear your heart out.
Be sure to view ALL of the film’s credits to experience the REAL ENDING of Chris Kyle’s Texas life.
The motion picture opens this evening in preview runs then everywhere Friday.
AMERICAN SNIPER scores a perfect A and is not to be missed!
(Reviewed at AMC WARD PARKWAY Theatre)
JACK GOES TO THE MOVIES Friday mornings at 6:40 a.m. and 8:40 a.m. on 98.1-KMBZ and anytime on Facebook.
PLEASE NOTE THAT “AMERICAN SNIPER” WAS NOMINATED FOR 6 ACADEMY AWARDS THIS MORNING INCLUDING ‘BEST PICTURE!’
Eastwood is a terrific director. that he’s still going strong in front of and behind the camera at his age is amazing.
Does it deal with the time he lied about knocking Jesse Ventura out at a bar or the other things he got caught lying about?
Every review I have read suggests that it mostly focuses on his time in the military and how it affected his relationships. Not much in regards to some of the more bizarre claims he made. The man was a weirdly interesting and complex individual. I would suggest reading this New Yorker article about him from a couple of years ago:
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2013/06/03/in-the-crosshairs