"Eastwood directs the wrong story; it’s too busy being overly patriotic instead of focusing on how war really affects the people who endure it"

Clint Eastwood’s latest directing effort, American Sniper, was originally planned as a Steven Spielberg film before he dropped out in 2013. It’s secured six Oscar nominations and has, for all intents and purposes, been compared with The Hurt Locker, but frankly it’s hard to see why.

American Sniper is based on Chris Kyle’s (Bradley Cooper’s character) autobiography, who became the deadliest marksman in US military history, with 160 confirmed kills during four tours of duty. It charts his childhood, brutal training regime, romance with Taya (Sienna Miller), and his obsession with chasing down a Syrian shooter (Sammy Sheik).

In its early stages, Kyle’s father tells him the world is divided into three types: sheep (weak), wolves (evil), and sheepdogs (the protectors of the weak), and it’s clear to see why Kyle sees himself as the sheepdog, a protector against evil, as does Eastwood.

Perhaps a more interesting film would have been to question why the wolves act in this way or how being a sheepdog affects the mind, because it’s clear to see Kyle develop PTSD upon his first return from service, but sadly we don’t see any of this more interesting (and arguably better) film because it’s too busy being patriotic, highlighting him as a hero or legend of sorts.

The symbol of The Punisher is an overt sign for how Kyle sees himself; a man devoting his life to destroying organised crime (specifically terrorism) and protecting ‘his boys’ and ‘the greatest country on Earth’.

While the Iraqi contingent are reduced to shadowy savages disappearing down dark alleys -- led by a terrorist called The Butcher, a man who indulges in killing small boys with drills -- it’s hard not to see past the encouraged stereotype.  But if, and it’s a questionable ‘if’, this is genuinely reflective of Kyle’s experience and how he saw them, then who am I to argue?

In truth, American Sniper is a massive letdown because there is a good story to be told hidden underneath.  Cooper should have portrayed a character that develops convincingly and deals with the severity of his illness more effectively. While Miller is but a shining light as a military wife, this is primarily a reflection on the devastating impact war has on loved ones, as well as the soldiers themselves.

Eastwood directs the wrong story; it’s too busy being overly patriotic instead of focusing on how war really affects the people who endure it.