American Hero..."American Sniper"

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American Sniper (2014)

Rated R

Starring Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller

Directed by Clint Eastwood

The Story:

Chris Kyle (Cooper) grew up in Texas, and all his life he planned on being a cowboy. After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Chris decided to be something more and joined the military. His next stop, he became an elite sniper for the Navy SEALS. However, his experiences in battle don't help him adjust very well at home with his wife (Miller) and he finds life in the combat zone oddly more comforting.

This is Kyle's story, and politics and feelings on war aside, it's one worth watching.

Now, how much Kyle may or may not have embellished in his book is up to his critics to decide, but Clint Eastwood takes the work he was given and crafts a beautiful narrative that doesn't glorify war, but gives the viewers a small taste of what it's like to be there and have to make the decisions that can save, or cost lives in a split second.

Cooper disappears into the role and becomes the Texas cowboy who just wants to serve his country, and is tormented over how to be a family man when he comes home. He's amazing in the role and the movie is carried on his shoulders, and he doesn't miss a beat.

Short review, but that's all you need. You know whether this film is for you probably based on the title alone.

Final Grade: Solid B

My Money Is On Marky Mark Being The "Lone Survivor"

Lone Survivor (2013)

Rated R

Starring Mark Wahlberg, Taylore Kitsch, Emile Hirsch, Ben Foster, Eric Bana,

Written and Directed by Peter Berg

The Story:

Marcus Luttrell (Wahlberg) and the rest of his SEAL team head into Afghanistan on a secret mission to capture a Taliban leader.  When they are discovered by some goat herders, they are faced with the dilemma: spare them or kill/capture them?  Following their explicit rules of engagement, they let them go.

Naturally, the team is hunted down and killed until only Luttrell is left.

This is their sad story.

Not only do they lose most of their team, even a rescue attempt goes awry costing more men their lives.

That Luttrell finds safety and salvation in the village is both ironic and heartwarming.  The villagers live by the code to protect people from their enemies.

That includes standing up to the Taliban to give Luttrell a chance to survive and mend.

The end credits are a brief and touching tribute to the lives that were lost during this mission, and only begin to scrape the surface of how many have perished during this conflict.

I hate to give movies like this a low grade.  They mean well, showing people how horrible war can be, and how great those that serve in the military really are.

But somehow, I just didn't connect with this film or the characters enough to make me care more for their fates.


Or perhaps knowing that everyone aside from Wahlberg is going to bite the dust going in to the movie, all of the suspense is already sucked from the viewer, and so then it's just an exercise in paint-by-numbers.

And that's too bad.

Final Grade: C+/B- range

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Much like Zero Dark Thirty, many of these movies are now a one and done.  Well done, but too much for repeated viewings.