“American Sniper” (2014)

“American Sniper” (2014) is a biographical war drama directed by Clint Eastwood and based on the memoir of Chris Kyle, the most lethal sniper in U.S. military history. The film stars Bradley Cooper as Chris Kyle, delivering a powerful performance that earned him widespread acclaim and an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. The movie delves into Kyle’s experiences during his four tours in the Iraq War and explores the psychological toll of war on soldiers and their families.
The film follows Chris Kyle, a Texas-born rodeo cowboy who decides to join the Navy SEALs after witnessing news coverage of terrorist attacks. After rigorous training, Kyle becomes a sniper with an unmatched talent for precision shooting, earning the nickname “Legend” for his deadly accuracy and for saving countless lives of American soldiers.
During his time in Iraq, Kyle’s main adversary is a skilled Syrian sniper, Mustafa, who becomes a symbol of the dangers that Kyle faces. Over the course of four tours, Kyle becomes increasingly conflicted as the horrors of war weigh on him, and he struggles with the moral dilemmas that come with his role as a sniper.
Back at home, his wife Taya (played by Sienna Miller) grapples with the emotional strain of having a husband at war and raising their children alone. As Kyle’s commitment to his duty intensifies, his connection to his family becomes strained, and he experiences symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which begin to impact his mental health.
The film culminates in Kyle’s decision to leave the military and focus on helping other veterans adjust to life after war, which brings him a sense of purpose and healing. However, the tragic irony of the story lies in the fact that Kyle, after surviving years of combat, is killed by a troubled veteran he was trying to help.