American Sniper

A movie review by Father Scott Archer

January 30, 2015

I was not certain what to expect when I went see American Sniper, a movie directed by Clint Eastwood about the wartime experiences and family life of Chris Kyle, a Navy Seal and sniper. From a critical perspective, this movie presents two difficulties: it was an immediate box office success yet it seems to have divided theatergoers along ideological lines. My primary concern, here, is to look past both of these extrinsic aspects and determine if it works as a story and a movie. Not all box office successes—and this certainly qualifies as one—are necessarily good movies, and ideologies alone certainly do not make for a good story. 

I was pleasantly surprised to see a well-acted and well-directed movie about how war affects those who fight, specifically Chris Kyle. Had it not been for the acting skills of Bradley Cooper, who brings the emotional strength needed for the lead, this movie could have gone downhill rather quickly into just another war movie. He was made for this part; in fact, Cooper obviously worked very hard to make himself look physically more like Chris Kyle.

The story begins in Iraq, with a flashback to his childhood. The rest of the movie progresses through his time in Iraq as well as his time at home. It is a riveting story and will move most to admire the sacrifices made by so many for the sake of their country. American Sniper effectively illustrates these sacrifices both on and off the battlefield—sacrifices made by soldiers as well as their loved ones. This movie could have fallen into the trap of intentionally manipulating our emotions, but it lets the story unfold in a dignified manner. The end will leave you speechless but also appreciative of the sacrifices he made.