Thoughts on Sniper

American Sniper’s biggest critics would have you to believe that it’s nothing more than propaganda, that it glorifies war and makes no real effort to show the ill-effects of taking hundreds of other human lives.  It’s not.  Its biggest supporters say that it’s a great movie, wonderfully made and among the best military movies of all time.  It’s not. 

Sniper is a good, maybe even very good, war biopic.  Unfortunately it follows much of the same formulaic mishaps that make so many biopics bland, unoriginal and repetitive.  For example, too many films of this genre can’t seem to narrow their focus, wanting to cover too much material instead of concentrating on a specific moment or time in their subject’s life. And though Eastwood does well in keeping the spotlight mostly on Chris Kyle’s military tours, he can’t help himself from flashing back to Kyle’s past.  Mercifully, the director hurries through Chris’s earlier life, from a young boy to his eventual wedding.  Yes SOME of that material is essential to the film’s story.  And while I thank Clint for being so expeditious with the narrative, it still feels rushed and forced and at times unnecessary.  Not to mention, some of the underlying messages in those scenes are about as subtle as a sledgehammer (another biopic blunder). Cue the dinner table scene. 

However, unlike others of its kind, the subject matter and content here are interesting enough to take the film beyond where lesser biopics would fall short. Kyle’s story is an incredible and compelling one, at times causing even the harshest biopic antagonists to inch ever so close to the edge of their seats.  Some great moments come to mind: Kyle’s “first kill” and his subdued yet emotional reaction.   His restrained horror and internal quandry when a young boy tries to pick up and handle a rocket launcher.  Nothing new here, but this is probably Bradley Cooper’s best work.  He’s really good.  The more I think about it, the more I appreciate his work here.  He carries the movie, a lot.  He has to.  

Unfortunately the other characters lack any real substance and depth (biopic botch).  Kyle’s wife is about as one-dimensional as it gets, and we know little of his fellow soldiers so the impact lessens when they’re gone.  Recently while accepting the SAG award for Best Supporting Actor, J. K. Simmons spoke about how vital peripheral characters are to the success of a film.  Just before he thanked all 49 other actors that appear onscreen in “Whiplash,” he said, “Each of us is essential, completely crucial to the story. Because if there’s one false moment the train comes off the rails and our willing suspension of disbelief is gone, and we have to earn it back.”  In his attempt to legitimize the role of secondary characters, Simmons also illustrates where Sniper falls a little short for me.  

Contrary to the naysayers, the movie does attempt to show the psychological repercussions of war.  Cooper does his best with what he’s given, but there’s just not enough material there. Or what is there is only scratching the surface of someone like Chris Kyle, whose internal struggle with demons surely lies far beyond the reach of any words I can come up with to describe it.  I just don’t think the PTSD stuff is very effective, especially when compared to the effectiveness of most of the sniper and battle scenes. The film lacks balance in that aspect.  But there’s enough in the movie to argue against any accusations of pro-war propaganda.  Chris’s brother, for instance. The movie tries to be sympathetic towards his disdain for war, as opposed to mocking him for it. And it’s obvious that Cooper isn’t “enjoying” himself when in battle.

I understand why so many people love this movie, and of course no one is wrong for doing so. In addition to possibly some of the best trailers and TV spots I’ve ever seen, Sniper may fuel the patriotic flames of the masses better than any other.  

Having said all that, sometimes any reservations one may have with a particular film can be summed up with a statement as simple as “It just didn’t click for me.”  That may be my biggest qualm, to a certain degree.  I liked it.  Just probably not as much as you.