American Sniper

It takes an awful lot to get yours truly to patronize a movie theater.  I don't much care for a lot of what Hollywood produces anyway.  And, I'm generally willing to wait however long I have to wait to be able to watch it in the comfort of my own home.

But, I made an exception for Clint Eastwood's new hit American Sniper.

I will admit a large portion of my motivation was based on the desire to do my part to stick it to its unworthy critics like Michael Moore, Seth Rogen, and Bill Maher.

A somewhat lesser motivation was to see how closely the film followed Chris Kyle's autobiography of the same title.

As usual, I had to conclude the book is better than the movie.  Well, at least it was better at giving a well-rounded insight into just who Chris Kyle became as a result of his wartime experiences.  He was less interested in building himself up as a hero and presented an unfiltered account of his impressions of the Iraqi people and Islamofascism. 

That being said, Eastwood masterfully repackaged Kyle's narrative into a truly moving film.  Contrary to what the liberal elite might have us believe, it is assuredly NOT a pro-war film.  In fact, one might even say it is anti-war insofar as it depicts quite vividly how war and violence are dehumanizing forces. 

You cannot watch this film without being convinced of the bravery of our fighting men and women, not just for what they are forced to do to defend our liberties but also for the internal battles they have to wage to "return home."

SPOILER ALERT:
Chris Kyle had just begun his own return home when he was murdered.  That is the real tragedy of his epic life story.

Takeaways:
(1) Bradley Cooper deserves the Academy Award nomination he received for bringing Kyle back to life on screen.
(2) The next time you encounter a veteran, thank them not only for their service in uniform but also for their ongoing efforts to "come home."