American Sniper 4K UHD Review
“American Sniper” is a compelling true story that is in need of more development.
Based on the life of Chris Kyle and the memoir “American Sniper: The Autobiography Of The Most Lethal Sniper In U.S. Military History,” 2014’s “American Sniper” chronicles the life of Chris Kyle from a cowboy to becoming a Navy SEAL sniper. While in training, he meets his wife Teya whom he later has children with. His home life becomes interrupted after 9/11 when he is deployed to Iraq for multiple years for a total of 4 tours. While overseas, he develops a reputation as a legendary sniper, makes increasingly difficult decisions on duty, saves fellow soldiers (but also sees many lose their lives), and begins to suffer from PTSD. When he returns home in between tours, he struggles to adjust to home life and grows distant from his wife and family.
Directed by Clint Eastwood and written by Jason Hall, “American Sniper” became a smash hit at the box office and it’s not hard to see why. The intense true life story seemed to resonate with viewers with its impactful story about heroism, the military, war, patriotism, and trauma. Judging the film on its own merits, it’s certainly a well made feature that grips you from the get go. By essentially following one soldier through his experiences with Chris Kyle, you get a more personal and harrowing cinematic experience through Kyle’s POV. With that said, however, the movie is lacking in several departments.
It’s clear early on in ‘Sniper’ that the movie really races through events and timelines. The depiction of the Iraq War is lackluster, the story doesn’t explore the mental health angle nearly enough (it almost feels like an after thought in the end), and the decision to create an enemy sniper villain with Mustafa (who was but a mere mention in the novel) feels like a very Hollywood thing through and through. Granted, there’s only so much time in an already lengthy movie, but a few changes and additions really would have strengthened the narrative.
Someone who does deserve credit here is Clint Eastwood. Eastwood has already cemented himself as an iconic actor, but he deserves more respect as a filmmaker. He may not be an auteur and more of a workman, but Eastwood’s ability to tackle nearly any genre in a big way is something few filmmakers can pull off. It’s tough to be so prolific and varied.
On the acting front, there’s 2 stand-out performances here. Bradley Cooper really commits himself to the role of Chris Kyle. He really disappears into it and manages to depict internalized pain in a convincing manner. Sienna Miller (who is a severely underrated actress) gives a really soulful performance as Teya (the wife of Chris). Seeing her agonizing struggles at home and her difficulties in helping Chris was emotional to say the least.
Video/Audio:
Presentation: 2.40:1 2160p. How does it look? This 4K is a worthwhile upgrade from past releases. The specific color tone of the movie looks particularly sharp.
Audio Track: Dolby Atmos. How does it sound? From the opening moment of the rolling tank practically rattling my teeth, it was clear this Atmos track would deliver. The sandstorm sequence was also quite impactful.
Extras:
* Digital copy
* “One Soldier’s Story: The Journey Of American Sniper” revolves around the production, Chris Kyle, the authenticity of the film, shooting locations and more.
* “Chris Kyle: The Man Behind The Legend”- A half-hour biography on the veteran soldier.
* “Clint Eastwood: A Cinematic Legacy- The Heart Of A Hero”-
* “Navy SEALs: In War And Peace” covers the history and life of a Navy SEAL (including training and juggling home life and service life).
* “Bringing The War Home: The Cost Of Heroism”- A featurette on PTSD
* “The Making Of American Sniper”
* “Guardian”- A brief promo with interviews
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