Saw this one last week and here's what I thought of the movie in a nutshell.... It left me wanting more.
AS is the true story of Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, who had the most kills of any sniper in U.S. history, while protecting U.S. troops in Iraq. The scenes of the SEAL training and the combat scenes in Iraq are gripping and quite intense. Director Clint Eastwood does a good job of capturing how combat has such a life-altering effect on many of our soldiers. Many come back severely wounded, missing limbs or horribly disfigured. But many come back physically intact, but are suffering from PTSD that makes it difficult for them to acclimate back into civilian life.
Sienna Miller plays Kyle's wife, Taya, who is struggling to raise the family while Kyle is overseas. But when he's home, he's not there due to him wanting to be back in Iraq with his "brothers and sisters." This leads to many conflicts between them and many scenes involving the two are about her wanting him to stop fighting, come home and be a full-time father to their growing family. There is a very strong message about why Kyle feels it is important to be fighting terrorism overseas instead of on our shores. And there is an equally strong message about the folks back home supporting our troops. And not just supporting them while they are overseas, but when they return home as well. This is where I felt the movie came up a little short.
After his service ended, Kyle comes back home and learns to adjust to civilian life. He also decides to help out his fellow vets who are struggling to "get back to normal" and works with many of them to help them deal with their issues. This is where I would have liked to have seen more about Kyle's work to help out others returning from combat. In the end, it is his work with other vets that ultimately leads to his death (Sorry if that spoils the movie for some who are not familiar with Kyle's story).
I will say that the ending of the movie is one of the most dramatic and emotionally charged endings I can recall. After the movie ended, not one word was spoken by the audience leaving the theater. Eastwood does a fine job of bringing the message home that these brave men and women need our support at home, just as much as they do when abroad. Although I felt this movie did not live up to all of my expectations, it's still a very good one and I give it 8 out of 10 Sooner Schooners.
AS is the true story of Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, who had the most kills of any sniper in U.S. history, while protecting U.S. troops in Iraq. The scenes of the SEAL training and the combat scenes in Iraq are gripping and quite intense. Director Clint Eastwood does a good job of capturing how combat has such a life-altering effect on many of our soldiers. Many come back severely wounded, missing limbs or horribly disfigured. But many come back physically intact, but are suffering from PTSD that makes it difficult for them to acclimate back into civilian life.
Sienna Miller plays Kyle's wife, Taya, who is struggling to raise the family while Kyle is overseas. But when he's home, he's not there due to him wanting to be back in Iraq with his "brothers and sisters." This leads to many conflicts between them and many scenes involving the two are about her wanting him to stop fighting, come home and be a full-time father to their growing family. There is a very strong message about why Kyle feels it is important to be fighting terrorism overseas instead of on our shores. And there is an equally strong message about the folks back home supporting our troops. And not just supporting them while they are overseas, but when they return home as well. This is where I felt the movie came up a little short.
After his service ended, Kyle comes back home and learns to adjust to civilian life. He also decides to help out his fellow vets who are struggling to "get back to normal" and works with many of them to help them deal with their issues. This is where I would have liked to have seen more about Kyle's work to help out others returning from combat. In the end, it is his work with other vets that ultimately leads to his death (Sorry if that spoils the movie for some who are not familiar with Kyle's story).
I will say that the ending of the movie is one of the most dramatic and emotionally charged endings I can recall. After the movie ended, not one word was spoken by the audience leaving the theater. Eastwood does a fine job of bringing the message home that these brave men and women need our support at home, just as much as they do when abroad. Although I felt this movie did not live up to all of my expectations, it's still a very good one and I give it 8 out of 10 Sooner Schooners.
