American Sniper - It's kind of funny to switch talking from Birdman to American Sniper as the two are very dissimilar especially in presentation. American Sniper is very simply told. It's easy to understand and follow. Yet, it's simplicity is also what I find brilliant about it. A person can watch this movie and see it as pro-war. Another can watch it and see it as anti-war. A person can see Chris Kyle as someone to be praised, another as someone to be criticized and another could be somewhere in the middle. I thus find what Clint Eastwood did with this movie amazing. It allows people to see what they want to see out of it. Really, that is a mark of good art.
There's plenty of scenes in the movie that are praiseworthy and plenty that are worthy of criticism as well. Usually, the criticism comes from what isn't there or could have been developed more. I've read a few other reviews of American Sniper after seeing it. I like to read film criticism because it can open your eyes to things you may have missed and get new perspectives. For those that have been negative on the movie, it is usually because they felt Eastwood glossed over some aspects such as the PTSD suffering Chris experienced or little character development. I understand why some would feel that way and they are valid. Yet, I think that any variation of what is shown on screen or for the movie to start dwelling more in-depth on any topic would have ruined the way this film is now. It would start to become more about a certain message or to skew to one viewpoint. By keeping things uncomplicated, it keeps open to all the interpretations going on about it now.
So, what was my take on it then? First, I am positive about the movie. I liked it more than I expected. I was expecting a grim and dour movie. While it has such moments, it also has moments of levity and thoughtfulness. The film helps establish and put you in the mindset of the character right away. I'm on the sheepdog side. While the sudden decision of him joining the military didn't come across too convincing, the rest of the movie you understand his desire and need to keep going back to war. I didn't care much about the enemy sniper. It just seemed too cliché that, of course, there has to be an enemy sniper just as skilled as the hero. However, by having the enemy sniper, it allows the film more of a closure and mission accomplished wrap up to the story which I guess helps considering how the objectives of the war change throughout the movie. It becomes the only connecting objective through all tours of duty. Still, the final showdown and subsequent dust storm scenes felt like the lowest point of the film to me. The final adjustment to civilian life is brief. We see some of the effects of his time in war affect him. However, he soon finds a way to find a new way to serve to help himself and others and the movie ends with him at a happier moment having become a successful survivor as it were. A real American hero. Thinking about it afterwards, I did find it funny that it would have to be a Texas cowboy gun-loving America First sort of hero. The cliché American soldier almost. Again, to the movie's credit, though, I didn't find that off-putting and was mainly on Kyle's side throughout. It's probably Cooper's best acting yet.
However, let's just discuss that ending for a moment. Before seeing the film, various articles had already begun to pop up about it and I thought I'd glanced somewhere that mentioned he had died but just glancing at other headlines and tidbits before seeing the film, I thought I must have misread or misunderstood something because it seemed like he was still alive as there were all these interviews with him popping up also. So, when the title card came up that he died later that day, it was a weird shock and a bit completely at odds with the sort of happy ending that had just been set-up. Was it needed? Would the film have been better to just end without mentioning he died or showing the funeral? I'm not sure. I'm mixed about it. It's sort of like how the movie Lincoln probably could have ended with him off to the theatre without having to go through showing the Lincoln assassination. It's an interesting piece to the person's history and story but it sort of distracts from what has come before. I've seen it said that the movie only shows guns in a positive light as protectors in war and for recreation. In the one instance where guns would be portrayed negatively, which is Kyle's murder, the movie gives it no screen time. While it's an interesting critique, I don't think showing his death would be the right choice thematically. The movie is a salute to the troops. It's not trying to cast them in a negative light but just show their experiences and what they faced. To then end with a disturbed soldier killing an American hero would ruin the sympathy the film has been building with the audience. It makes an ironic ending but it would send the wrong message of appreciating the sacrifices made by the troops. So, it is what it is like the whole movie. It's just plainly stately just as the movie plainly shows most things. There's more to dig into if you want but whatever you want to dig up and point to represents your opinion of things.
It's technically sound and tightly directed. It's not a movie I'd seek out to watch again but I wouldn't be opposed to seeing again. It reminds me of past movies like Captain Phillips, Warhorse or Philomena. It's an interesting enough journey. It sucked me into its world. It didn't impact like say Life of Pi or Whiplash but it's a solid movie and I'm glad I took the time to experience it and one I don't have a problem recommending to other people to check out.
Topic: Khushrenada's Annual Oscar Thread Tradition. 2015 style! (Read 14212 times)
