Movie #5 - American Sniper

Much like the subject matter of this movie, I'm on a mission. A mission to see all the Oscar nominated films (Best Picture, Actor and Actress categories only) before the Oscars, so I can try to predict the winners.  Apart from that though I was also interested to see this movie that has caused a little bit of controversy in the United States - is it pro-war, neutral or anti-war?  As someone who was watching out for this carefully, I have to say I found that the ultimate message was anti-war.  So don't let the fact that it's directed by Clint Eastwood and there's a hoo-ha about it being pro-war and pro-US put you off, as it's actually an excellent film.

The film tells the true story of Chris Kyle, a Texan who joined the military at the age of 25 after his first career choice, a bronco rider, didn't work out after an arm injury.  With the shooting skills learned from hunting with his father from a young age, Chris is right for the Navy Seals and becomes a sniper - the guys who sit on rooftops that can pick off anyone attacking the main military force's operation. Chris Kyle, the real person, was credited with 160 confirmed kills from a probably 255 kills during his military career of about 10 years.  While still in training, he meets Taya (Sienna Miller, who is almost unrecognisable here, not sure what she has done to herself though), falls hard and they marry before he is even deployed on his first overseas mission.

While the film appears to deviate from or leave out some parts of Chris Kyle's true story, it hews close enough to the key events to be a worthy document of his life.  The film switches between Chris' time in Iraq through four tours, his wife at home raising their two children, and his time at home between tours.  While Chris' 'absence' from life at home even when he is home must surely be exaggerated (why would Taya remain in love with such an empty shell), it certainly serves to show that the impact of war on those in the military and their families is extreme.

Bradley Cooper is very good as Chris Kyle.  He worked out and ate a bunch (every 50 minutes) until he gained the size of the real guy, making a more believable character, but more importantly he nails a mix of Texan charm, gung-ho patriotism and brooding intensity over the horrible things he has to do at times.  Chris' belief is that his role is essential in protecting American soldiers and the homeland he loves so much and he seems, on the surface, to be able to use that to ignore any criticism of his job and America's wars.  However, Cooper does a great job of showing the deeper feelings of trauma or sadness, even if they are only seen for a few fleeting seconds before he firms again.

There are really no other name actors in the cast of fellow soldiers and the people trying to help Chris Kyle 'become human again' after his honourable discharge from the Navy in 2009, when he started to work with injured vets to find meaning and purpose after the horrors they experienced.  The only other big role is that of an enemy sniper, a Syrian former Olympian who was plying his trade in the same area in Iraq against the Americans, who becomes Chris' nemesis and obsession to take down. 

Clint Eastwood is assured in both the action scenes (no shaky cam here thank God) and the family drama, with excellent pacing throughout.  While we can't agree with his pro-gun stance in his personal life, I truly don't think this has been made as a pro-war film.  If you don't walk out of here thinking "What a mess these wars make" I'd be very surprised.  It's tense, it's interesting and it's a quality film that deserves to be seen before it's judged.

I'm giving this 7 out of 10.

2014, What you should have Seen

2014, wow what a year in film. I think you could say there was a lot of quality films made and not a lot of junk, so much so that I've found it difficult to pick my Top 10 films of the year because everything I saw was generally pretty good so to pick the standouts is hard.

Top 10 films of 2014

1. Boyhood.  A truly unique film experience that was also moving and fun.  Filmed in small bites every year over 12 years, we see Mason grow from the age of 6 to 18. Great performances all round.

2. Predestination.  A mind bending noir, sci-fi, mystery, thriller with great production design by Brisbane twins The Spierig brothers.

3. Dallas Buyers Club.  Heartbreaking stuff from Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto as they brought to life the struggle of an outsider community for acceptance and appropriate healthcare.

4. The Raid 2.   I thought the first one was brutal - then I saw this one.  Absolutely top notch action sequences but not a replay of the first film, as this one introduces a nailbiting 'undercover in a crime family' angle.

5. Guardians of the Galaxy.  Who needs Star Wars?  I loved the humour, warmth, bright colours and space chases.

6. Captain America: The Winter Soldier.  I know, so many blockbusters in my list.  But this was a clever political thriller dressed up as a big blockbuster.  Thought provoking stuff for our times crossed with great visuals.

7. Her.  The most unique storyline of the year reminded us of the ups and downs of love.

8. Grand Budapest Hotel. Wes Anderson's most accessible movie to date?  Which doesn't say much as it's still quirky as all get out. A madcap comedy caper with a great ensemble cast.

9.  The Babadook.  A scary little movie on a taboo topic (mothering a difficult child) that didn't get the recognition it deserved in Australia, but has received huge international acclaim.  Stephen King declared his admiration! Great direction by Jennifer Kent and acting by Essie Davis plus a very spooky monster.

10. 22 Jump Street.  The funniest movie of the year for me (end credits are a must watch) joins the small club of sequels that are better than the first movie.

So close to making it: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, X-Men Days of Future Past, Sin City 2: A Dame to Kill For, Interstellar.

Worst/Most Disappointing
1. Sex Tape.  Just really bad and infrequently funny.
2. Lords of Salem. Straight to DVD nastiness from Rob Zombie.  Just pointless, not scary and depressing.  Waste of time.
3. Transcendence.  Nobody even tried with this one, what a waste of a half-decent idea.
3. The Rover - a very disappointing follow up for director David Michod.  It was actually a good film, but we just all expected so much after 'Animal Kingdom' and from such a great cast.  Give us a hero to cheer for!
4. Snowpiercer - I thought I was going to love this so much.  It had some good ideas but just didn't land the knockout punch.

Best Performances of the Year
1. Sarah Snook in Predestination - a star is born.  So brave. 
2. The cast of Boyhood - all gave highly naturalistic and convincing performances as a family over a 12 year period.
3.  Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto in Dallas Buyer's Club.  Opposite in views but both very touching.
4. Chiwetel Ejiofor and Lupita Nyong'o in 12 Years a Slave. Tragic dignity.
5. Essie Davis in The Babadook. Again very brave
6. Joaquin Phoenix in Her.  A superb one man show of vulnerability.

Best Movie Moments of 2014
1.  Quiksilver's exit from the prison in X-Men: Days of Future Past was the best scene in any film I saw last year.  Super fun. 
2. Starlord's impromptu dance-off with Ronan the Accuser in Guardians of the Galaxy was almost as good.
3. An attacker clinging to the door of a car in the Raid 2 being met with automatic weapon fire straight through the motorcycle helmet.  Bye!
4. The realisation of who the Unmarried Mother is going to meet when they go back in time. Woah!
5.  Jonah Hill's 'Walk of Shame', Ice Cube's buffet destruction and Channing Tatum's reaction to finding out Schmidt's date, all in 22 Jump Street.

B's Top 10
This year we had a few more in common than last year!

Interstellar
Her
Guardians of the Galaxy
Grand Budapest Hotel
Predestination
Dallas Buyers Club
Chef
Gone Girl
What we do in the shadows
Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Australian Box Office for 2014:
The top 10 for 2014 was no real surprise - it was either a sequel to already popular franchises, adaptations of books (Wolf of Wall Stret, Gone Girl, Hunger Games) or comics with one exception: The Lego Movie at #2.  Although to be fair, Lego also came with a built in fanbase from the toys.  But nobody really could have forseen how cool the movie would be. Guardians of the Galaxy was a risk that paid off, being one of Marvel's lesser known properties.

Sadly it was a bad year for box office for Australian movies even though there was a reasonable output.  The Rover, Predestination, The Babadook, Tracks, Felony, These Final Hours, Charlie's Country, The Little Death were all decent quality films that should have done some business but most barely made $500,000 in total box office.  Wolf Creek 2 at #62 and Tracks at #90 were the only ones to crack the top 100.

1	The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1	Roadshow	$28,005,111	11/20
2	The Lego Movie	Roadshow	$27,757,563	4/3
3	The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies	WB	$26,295,611	12/26
4	Transformers: Age of Extinction	PPI	$24,862,352	6/26
5	How to Train Your Dragon 2	Fox	$24,827,367	6/19
6	Guardians of the Galaxy	Disney	$23,291,983	8/7
7	The Wolf of Wall Street	Roadshow	$21,883,506	1/23
8	Gone Girl	Fox	$21,750,665	10/2
9	X-Men: Days of Future Past	Fox	$21,121,336	5/22
10	22 Jump Street	Sony	$21,000,729	6/19

I would love to hear your favourite movies and moments of 2014.  Please share your comments below (you can use Anonymous if you don't have a Google account).