American Sniper (2014)

Director: Clint Eastwood

Writers: Jason Hall, Chris Kyle, Scott McEwen, Jim DeFelice

Composers: Dean Valentine, Clint Eastwood

Starring: Bradley Cooper, Kyle Gallner, Cole Konis, Ben Reed, Elise Robertson, Luke Sunshine, Keir O'Donnell, Marnette Patterson, Sienna Miller, Luke Grimes, Tim Griffin

More info: IMDb

Tagline: One Bullet can tell the story

Plot: Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle's pinpoint accuracy saves countless lives on the battlefield and turns him into a legend. Back home to his wife and kids after four tours of duty, however, Chris finds that it is the war he can't leave behind.

My rating:  8/10

Will I watch it again?  Maybe.

Man, it's amazing that Eastwood's still cranking out quality (mostly) flicks and he's in his 80s.  The performances were good and it was neat seeing Cooper underplay a role and become a regular guy.  Granted, that ordinary guy who is extraordinarily good at killin' folks but he also seems like a guy that'd have a beer with almost anybody.  When the film came out I heard the controversy over the fake baby and now that I've finally see it, I get it but it was blown way out of proportion.  That's getting nitpicky.  There's nothing really all that amazing going on as far as filmmaking goes except that the story is true.  It's a well-made film but it's Kyle's humility that grounds the picture.  The ending was fantastic.  I liked how Eastwood held back from going too far as to Kyle's fate and what followed that scene was some really powerful stuff.  The images and the Ennio Morricone's music, which I instantly recognized from his Spaghetti Western THE RETURN OF RINGO (1965) (not bragging...just sayin'...I'm a huge film score freak), followed by silence for the duration was spellbinding.  I would have liked to have seen audience's reaction to it.  It's powerful stuff and it's one of the best choices for end music (and no music) I've ever experienced.  This ending sealed the deal for me.  I'm not picking a side politically on this one.  I like the movie and I hope the real Chris Kyle wasn't an asshole unlike Bradley's portrayal in the film.