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I was intrigued by a director who praised the wonder of this film. It's a war and action film set mainly in Iraq, based on a true story. Realistic in its depiction of headshot deaths. If only it were just that. The decorated sniper, a record holder for enemies killed, pretends to struggle with choosing between being an unending compulsive patriot and returning to being a family man. Clint Eastwood is a decent director when he adapts stories where his fascist, macho, impulsive, vengeful, and reactionary side doesn't emerge, but here he misses the mark and reverts to Callaghan's philosophy: not public order but rather the homeland is in danger. In the closing credits, to confirm the hero's honor, real images of the solemn and public funeral are shown. It doesn't matter if you kill hundreds as long as you are on the side of the homeland. So, war is beautiful even if it hurts, and we will return to singing and letting nurses make love to us. Being an action film, it's not boring and keeps you engaged with the story.
So I recommend it to fans of the genre. The philosophy, the diffuse morality is detestable.
Of Clint Eastwood, the narrative and non-emotional director, I recommend Mystic River, Letters from Iwo Jima. You can also watch Gran Torino (overlooking some peaks of reactionism, machismo, swagger).
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By tersite
The biggest anti-war statement a film can make is to show the damage it does to a family and to people who return to civilian life.
Glory is something some men chase and others stumble upon, and it’s a noble gesture but when does glory fade and become a wrong crusade?
