Box Office Smash - #AmericanSniper

by Kim D.

This past Saturday, my husband and I went to see American Sniper. In a rare escape from home, leaving our son in the capable, yet expensive hands of a babysitter, we pre purchased tickets for a 3:30 matinee and arrived 30 minutes early, suspecting that even an afternoon showing would be in demand on the movie's release weekend. However, we were stunned and a little disappointed that the best seats available were on the third row. The movie theater was packed in anticipation to see the movie that had just received six Oscar nomination nods.

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That initial letdown soon disappeared once the movie began and the first of Chris Kyle's life or death decisions played out on the big screen in a scene where as a Navy Seal sniper, he is forced to make a decision to protect his fellow soldiers or preemptively take the lives of a young boy and woman who he believes are about to throw a grenade to thwart the military mission. Clint Eastwood and Bradley Cooper didn't disappoint producing a movie that is a fast-paced, roller coaster ride in celebration of the heroism and life of Chris Kyle.

This wasn't just another war movie. This was a biopic of one man's decision to use his God-given talents and heroic spirit to protect his brothers in arms spanning four tours in Iraq. It also was a rare picture of military family life, woven cleverly into a story of war.

Not being from a military family nor having served and offered my own life for this country, learning about the life of a Navy Seal and his family and the difficulties they face during active employment and afterwards in the reintegration phase to civilian life was an eye-opening experience. I came away from the movie having a deeper respect for men and women willing to wear the uniform and fight to keep America free.

The story of Chris Kyle ends on a tragic note as we learn he was killed on the firing range while spending time with a former veteran who had been diagnosed with PTSD. No one moved from theater seats during the credits and the distinct sound of sniffling could be heard followed by a huge round of applause.