American Sniper

American Sniper
source
Name	American Sniper
Director	Clint Eastwood
Producer	Clint Eastwood, Robert Lorenz, Andrew Lazar, Bradley Cooper, Peter Morgan

American Sniper is a biographical war drama film based on the memoir American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History by Chris Kyle, with Scott McEwen and Jim DeFelice. The film stars Bradley Cooper as Chris Kyle, a United States Navy SEAL who served in the Iraq War, and Sienna Miller as his wife Taya Kyle. The movie was produced by Warner Bros. Pictures, Village Roadshow Pictures, and RatPac-Dune Entertainment, in association with Baltasar Kormákur and Jason Hall.

Background

The story of Chris Kyle is one of courage and sacrifice, as he served four tours in the Iraq War, becoming the most lethal sniper in U.S. military history, with over 160 confirmed kills. Chris Kyle was born in Odessa, Texas, and grew up in Texas, where he was raised by his parents, Wayne Kyle and Deby Kyle. He was a skilled ranch hand and hunter, and was inspired to join the United States Navy after the September 11 attacks. Chris Kyle trained at the Naval Special Warfare Command in Coronado, California, and was assigned to SEAL Team 3, where he served with Marcus Luttrell and Mike Murphy. The film is based on Chris Kyle's memoir, which was published by HarperCollins and became a New York Times bestseller, with endorsements from Sean Hannity and Oliver North.

Plot

The film follows the story of Chris Kyle, from his childhood in Texas, to his enlistment in the United States Navy, and his four tours in the Iraq War. The movie depicts Chris Kyle's experiences as a sniper, including his time in Fallujah, Ramadi, and Sadr City, where he worked with U.S. Army soldiers, including General David Petraeus and General Raymond Odierno. The film also explores Chris Kyle's personal life, including his marriage to Taya Kyle, and his struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which affected many veterans of the Iraq War, including Brian Williams and Dexter Filkins. The movie features a strong supporting cast, including Luke Grimes as Marc Lee, Jake McDorman as Ryan Job, and Cory Hardrict as D.

Production

The film was directed by Clint Eastwood, who is known for his work on Unforgiven and Million Dollar Baby, and was produced by Robert Lorenz and Andrew Lazar. The screenplay was written by Jason Hall, who is a former U.S. Navy SEAL, and was based on the memoir by Chris Kyle. The film was shot on location in Morocco and California, and features a strong cast, including Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller, and Luke Grimes. The movie's cinematography was handled by Tom Stern, who has worked on The Hunger Games and The Bourne Legacy, and the editing was done by Joel Cox and Gary D. Roach, who have worked on Flags of Our Fathers and Letters from Iwo Jima.

Release

The film was released in the United States on December 25, 2014, by Warner Bros. Pictures, and was distributed by Village Roadshow Pictures and RatPac-Dune Entertainment. The movie premiered at the AFI Fest in Los Angeles, and was screened at the Tribeca Film Festival and the Cannes Film Festival. The film was a commercial success, grossing over $547 million worldwide, and becoming one of the highest-grossing films of 2014, along with The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 and Guardians of the Galaxy. The movie received widespread critical acclaim, with praise for the performances of Bradley Cooper and Sienna Miller, as well as the direction of Clint Eastwood.

Reception

The film received widespread critical acclaim, with praise for the performances of Bradley Cooper and Sienna Miller, as well as the direction of Clint Eastwood. The movie holds a 88% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 222 reviews, with an average rating of 7.6/10. The film also holds a 72/100 score on Metacritic, based on 48 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews". The movie was praised by critics, including Peter Travers of Rolling Stone, Todd McCarthy of The Hollywood Reporter, and A.O. Scott of The New York Times. The film was also praised by veterans of the Iraq War, including Marcus Luttrell and Dakota Meyer.

Impact

The film had a significant impact on the public's perception of the Iraq War and the experiences of veterans of the Iraq War. The movie sparked a national conversation about post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and the challenges faced by veterans returning from combat. The film also raised awareness about the importance of supporting veterans and their families, and the need for better mental health services for those affected by war. The movie was praised by politicians, including President Barack Obama and Senator John McCain, and was recognized by organizations, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Wounded Warrior Project. The film's success also led to an increase in donations to charities that support veterans, including the Chris Kyle Frog Foundation and the Navy SEAL Foundation. Category:War films