Matt Adcock at the cinema: American Sniper review

Director Clint Eastwood certainly knows a thing or two about depicting (and playing) alpha males and he gives admirable time not just to the intense battle situations but also to the formative experiences and the costs on Kyle and his family in the aftermath.

From the very first moment American Sniper grips and induces a state of shock and awe as the bullets fly, but more than that, it skilfully makes you care about the lives of those whose experiences we are sharing. By humanising the soldiers on the front line and showing their lives outside of the war where they have families and day-to-day issues to deal with, the film-makers manage to really put the viewers into the patriotic sandy boots of the US soldiers.

This is impressive cinematic warfare writ large. The plot looks beyond the politics, much like last year’s frenetic Lone Survivor mixed with The Hurt Locker. Sure, the lives and experiences of men of war has been done many times, but this is a class act, thanks in no small part to the incredible performance of Bradley Cooper in the lead role. Nominated for Best Film and Cooper for Best Actor at this year’s Oscars, this is a film that demands to be seen – whatever your thoughts and feelings about the Iraq war.

The climax sees Kyle going head to head with a fearful Syrian enemy sniper who is a worthy nemesis as he crosses paths with the US sniper at several points and leaves dead marines in his wake. The showdown is almost unbearably tense.

American Sniper was made in consultation with Kyle’s wife and she is portrayed with real heart by Sienna Miller, who is a beating heart behind the unstoppable killing machine of her husband.

If you see one war film this year, this should be your choice – a vivid, hard-hitting cinematic experience that deserves a wide audience.