Oh... So what's a scout sniper? He was recruited out the Marines gentlemen. Back then they also let all branches of service try out for buds. It's okay if you didn't know this because back then there was no such thing as a Navy Seal. (Thanks Obama)
And the fact that it's a biopic war movie that he's handling at that age. Like this is a big heavy subject matter that's not easy to tackle, Eastwood knocked it outta the park in making this considering his age especially in making those action scenes
Not that surprising since he came to hollywood when gritty movies of men being men were the norm. he watched actors and knew what it took for greatness. he took that and turned the story telling that he grew up on and made movies he knew he would enjoy. he never cared what hollywood thought and made movies based on the character in the story, not some idea of what the people wanted the character to be. it makes for a more grounded and real movie no matter the setting. i think he could this even in scifi if he wanted to.
Hello Drinker. US Marine here... Great video. For clarity, Chris never joined the US Marines, and he didn't retire from The Marine Corps. He originally wanted to join The Marines, but was talked into joining the US Navy instead (treated as a complete separate branch of military from The Marines) , with the hopes of becoming a US Navy Seal, which he eventually did. I don't recall if he retired, but he only served 10 years. One does not retire from the military unless they serve 20+ years of service, or are medically retired due to injuries or long term illnesses. As far as I know (and I'm no Chris Kyle historian), he simply served ~10 years and did not re-enlist for another term. I, myself, served nine years. To be medically retired, you have to have suffered irreversible medical damage which renders you un-deployable. I knew of one individual who was medically retired before he saw the fleet due to a botched surgery performed by the US Navy hospital which killed his control of being able to urinate, and I also knew a guy who was medically retired when they found out he had leukemia on his separations physical. I believe certain levels of PTSD also qualify for medical retirement, but I don't know if CK was retired for that reason. -Tony.
I was going to college in Stephenville Texas when the trial for his killer was going on there. This movie was still in theaters at the time and the atmosphere in the theater was intense. At the end no one clapped, they just sat through the credits and walked out in silence. It was very moving.
I remember watching this movie in the theatre. I have never seen a better example of a"deafening silence" than when the epilogue was playing. You could feel every person holding back their emotions for it, not wanting to be the one to ruin the moment. One of the few movies I've seen where when the credits rolled, a standing ovation was given by all in the crowd.
Admittedly that makes me very sad. I mean, I whole heartedly agree that americans have just as much right to feel good about their country as everybody else and that the woke nonesense needs to stop, but it's diffficult for me to grasp that snippering children in a country that was illegally invaded by the US didn't elicit a different kind of reaction. Apparently everything US troops do must be right and just and there's not even the hint of a thought concerning the illegality of US troops operating within Iraqi territory at all. If I were an american I would be very upset at the thought that a man like Chris Kyle can comfort himself by thinking that he acted on my behalf and with my interest in mind. I would object to both and refuse to acknowledge this man as a hero of my country.
@@Ryan_Winter there are some of us around...we just tend to keep quiet because were surrounded by normies like the poster that are brainwashed into that mindset. I've said for years, including during my time in the USN, that we have zero reason to be in most foreign countries. Most of these nitwit civilians still don't know there were never any WMDs. They dont know Pat Tillman was assassinated when he said he would expose troops were protecting poppy fields in Afghanistan troops we were protecting oil fields. The simple fact the entire Demorat party hasn't been hung for treason during its reign of terror and oppression on all minorities they could find since inception proves many ignore reality.
I actually enjoyed American Sniper from start to finish. Despite some historical inaccuracies, I still appriciate the filmmaking craft to it from Clint Eastwood's direction, cinematography, the sound design, the musical score aswell as Bradley Cooper and Sienna Miller's magnificent performance, it's a pretty good movie overall. Idk anything about Chris Kyle so I just watch it as a simple war movie about one man and for the most part I got that
@@jabronisauce6833 Idk, i just wanna watch a good movie. Not all historical movies are that accurate to the real story anyways but some were still good
Typically when I'm hyped about a movie and want to see it on opening weekend I buy a ticket for the first viewing on Sunday morning because here in Texas most people are just getting out of bed at 10am or they're at church. I had never been to a 10am Sunday viewing that had more than 25% capacity and often I could sit anywhere I want. I thought American Sniper would be the same. So, I got up, had breakfast and made my way to the theater in no particular rush. Stopped in the parking lot for a ceremonial pre-viewing smoke, picked up a drink and popcorn and made my way to the theater screening room. When I turned the corner and looked up at the seating the house was packed shoulder to shoulder and the only available seats were on the front row.
I'm just glad they made the movie. Veterans who were in action usually never tell anyone what they went through because they can't tell people what the movie showed. Civilians cannot comprehend it. Rest in peace, Chris Kyle.
You can tell he writes a compelling essay when you hardly notice that the video is basically the same half dozen clips just repeating, assuming to avoid any copyright issues ;)
I notice it particularly _because_ it's a compelling essay, and the first time through the clips match the topics he's discussing. Also, more than one set of clips.
Yeah, the clips are mostly just to give your eyeballs something to do, but you can just listen to his content and catch everything important. It's why The Drinker is my go-to to put on whenever I have to do menial tasks that require visual engagement but not intense focus, like shaving, doing dishes or cleaning guns.
@@DestinyAwaits19 agree but they're also different kinds of war movies trying to show different aspects of war so comparing the two is kind of pointless
Not sure Kyle was so emotionally torn as the film suggests. I saw an interview where he stated that he had 250 confirmed kills and his only regret was not getting any more.
I'm sure he had some issues like all the men who served in combat the film like real life never makes him regret taking lives it the fact that he leaves and doesn't fight that he regrets
He saw every kill as saving American lives by stopping an enemy, he wasn't conflicted about the morality of the war or of killing, but he certainly was physically and emotionally affected.
@@johntabler349 Please, how could you say that when he literally lied and bragged about the US Government sending him to New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina to kill "looters", he claims he sat on top of the Superdome and killed 30 people. Dude was absolutely full of shit and didn't care about anything but his marks. Let's not forget his dumb beef with Jesse Ventura.
@@specialk9424 When Clint ever leaves this Earth it's gonna be Death handing him the reigns as his successor The last thing anybody will see in their life is the Man with No Name
Saw this in the theater with my dad. Extremely profound experience even though I knew the whole story. When the film ended not a single person in the theater made a sound, no one stood up to leave, just sat there letting what they'd just seen soak in. I've never experienced anything else like it.
This was the first R-rated movie I saw in theaters, and I’m glad I watched it. It’s not overly complex, but it does a great job showing how ptsd changes a person and everyone around them.
I was an extra in this movie. Filmed a nighttime scene with Bradley Cooper and Clint Eastwood. Just being on set you could feel that this movie was going to be impactful. At the time it wasn’t really announced. But it turned out to be a damn good movie overall.
@@rogermcbadlad2812 yeah it was a memorable experience. We filmed on the same set as Iron Man 1 where he first uses the suit, the middle eastern looking town. Almost didn’t recognize Bradley Cooper cause he was so buff. The crew and talent were all great to work with.
I really dont want to like movies about how sad it made americans who invaded countries that they had no place being in. But American Sniper along with The Hurt Locker were both excellent movies, with great scripts and acted really well. They show how difficult situations can be for the personel on the ground. Bradley Cooper really threw himself in to this role as well, he didnt try to overplay it and by all accounts his portrayal of Chris Kyle was spot on. Its pleasing to see actors do justice to real life people, especially ones as brave as Kyle obviously was.
@@testcase6997 "A fine movie that politicians of all stripes ought to be made to watch this at least once a week" To show how bad things get when politics gets in the way of protecting people and supporting the men on the ground
I love the scene in the movie where he is at home and just staring at a blank screen. That was such a powerful scene. It perfectly captured the idea of PTSD and him being in two worlds at once and seeing combat everywhere. I have never been in a war but was once violently attacked and had semi-PTSD and it seemed like threats were everywhere and I think that scene captured that really powerfully (he sees combat even in an unlit TV screen). Also, this movie didn't do well with most critics and they didn't promote it but it did very well with "middle America" and people and communities that served in the wars.
Bradley Cooper did such a convincing job portraying Chris Kyle a lot of fans were genuinely let down when Cooper revealed he is nothing at all like Kyle politically.
I found it interesting that some people complained that the film glorified war too much, while others thought it was anti-war. Eastwood really walked the line without becoming preachy and let the viewer draw their own conclusions. IMO even the best causes can wear down the strongest people.
@Joe42m1: Good comment. Imho, there are 'War Movies'. and then there are 'Movies About War'. 'War Movies' are intended to entertain, and so avoid provoking thoughts which might distract from the screen, or the beer and pizza. 'Movies About War' are intended to give the audience something to think about, and American Sniper certainly does that.
My close friend trained Bradley Cooper for this movie. Even got his name in the credits he also trained Chris Kyle. He was in the teams for 25 years and was offered a part along side Kevin Lacz but turned it down like an old school frogman lol. Despite what some are saying Chris was well liked in the teams. I have heard some amazing stories about him and he was definitely a shit disturber lol. Thanks for reviewing drinker!
16 years I served as a Scout Snipper in the USMC. I meet Chris a few time and he was a good man. The enemy used to draw up wanted posters using our tatts. I remember showing the poster to some greens and told them all my tatts dont go below my sleeves and the only way someone would have seen them is after my shower. Told them the enemy is behind wire, and have a good sleep ;)
As an Iraqi war veteran, I love this movie though I find it hard to watch. It stays true to the feelings of the war itself, it goes beyond that to make a good piece of cinema. Good on ya Drinker!
Clint Eastwood is, if not one of the best directors left, the best director still around in Hollywood. He didn't heavily rely on the CGI, and he was able to tell a story from beginning to end efficiently.
I saw this movie in the theater on my 41st birthday when it was first released - to say the ending was a gut punch is an understatement, and I knew the ending before I walked into the theater. A testament to Bradley Cooper and Clint Eastwood's talent for sure.
Goddamnit, 3:25 through and Drinker is explaining the gritty reality of PTSD that the film explores and I burst out laughing. It's because it's the scene where Bradley Cooper is holding a fake baby and I'm remembering an interview with one of the cast explaining why they had to use the obvious fake and pointing out that Bradley was doing his best by pretending the baby was moving by pushing it's arm with his thumb.
Hollywood rules are pretty restrictive when it comes to filming babies held by adults. Which is hideously ironic given their zealous defense of unlimited abortion, the seedy stories of sexual abuse of children, and the more recent defense of grooming.
I really appreciated the attention to details. The water bottle filled with sand used to close doors in the tents and other military buildings, for example. If you paid attention, you could also see how the equipment and facilities changed for each deployment. They paid a lot attention to those small things and it made it feel a lot more real. I thought the portrayal of the enemy sniper was a tired trope and did little to help the story. It wasn’t real, it was kind of ridiculous. It was an unfortunate failure to appreciate the audience’s intelligence by using that cliche.
The week I moved to Dallas was the week of Chris Kyles funeral. I remember pulling over and standing in the rain as thousands of cars drove in the funeral procession down I-30 in south DFW. He was a man who touched a lot of people in the community. I do a lot of PRS shooting And even now when I go to the range I hear stories from guys who knew him. If those stories are true he did some real Paul Bunyan shit in the Middle East. RIP sir!
Drinker, have you done an Extra Shots video on Hamburger Hill? If you like this sort of gritty grounded realism of dudes just suffering and bonding through war, I highly recommend it.
Why Chris Kyle's actual teammates dislike this movie and what they say it got wrong about Chris Kyle: LT Leif Babin: "Chris Kyle was not this dark and brooding guy. The real Chris Kyle was absolutely hilarious, always cracking jokes, sometimes when he shouldn't have." He remembered one time he found him passed out on the rooftop with spaghetti o's all over his uniform. Babin also said the combat scenes were bullshit, Ramadi was WAY more intense, more similar to the ending battle scene in Saving Private Ryan where several of the main characters died. Senior Chief Tony Eafrati: "I really liked him a lot. He had a really good sense of humor, sometimes kinda even you know immature, which is not at all what people expect of him." Kevin Lacz, junior SEAL to him: "Chris was an extremely humble person, always deflecting praise to the people around him." Look at interviews around him, he's extremely personable, positive, hilarious, and even kind of shy. Some people have PTSD in addition to many other battlefield related issues such as moral injury and simply adjusting back to normal society(a big deal for some guys like them), however that was not a significant issue for Chris his condition was extremely high empathy - the love he had for his brothers in arms, even a few lost or potentially could have saved had a massive impact on his conscience.
The sprinkler scene was really fantastic. He just hears - off in the distance, not paying attention to anything - a sprinkler - and it throws him back there. It's really a brilliant piece of direction. I am sure that these every day events are far too common.
My uncle is a SEAL and knew this dude personally. Always gave him weird vibes and was upset that the movie left out some of the more f’ed up things he did. To this day he dislikes the movie
Yep, Chris Kyle was a bullshitter who may have been borderline psychotic. Respected Special Forces personnel do not carry themselves, talk or brag like Kyle did.
This movie is absolutely brilliant. I loved every second of it, and had to watch it twice, to let it really sink in... Thanks for the review you made... I appreciate that i wasn't the only one enjoying the hell out of this flick...
I enjoyed the film and was amazed by Kyles career and his astonishing achievements. Whilst Enemy at the Gates also gives an interesting take on snipers in war, I am surprised slightly that Simo Hayha has never had a film made of his life and service. As the deadliest sniper in the history of recorded war the Finnish ski trooper earned the sobriquet "the White Death" from his Soviet enemies. In his memoir, only discovered in 2017, he estimates around 500 kills, though his comrades at the time thought the figure much higher.
*I am surprised slightly that Simo Hayha has never had a film made of his life and service* That would be a brutal movie if done correctly. What is interesting about Simo other than no scoping hundreds of soldiers and officers, is that many of his kills weren't snipe kills, and came up close and personal in the forests
with the way all these supposedly 'based on true story' war movies usually bastardize the real history and true portrayals of these men, I would prefer that a movie never be made of him...
Clint Eastwood really knows how to grip you and make you hooked on characters, he really understands the importance of good character development. Bradley Cooper is a really underrated actor in my opinion. His performance in "A Star is Born" alongside Lady Gaga is phenomenal and their chemistry come across so strong and beliveable
@@Thamb0 from a mental health stand point, from a pov of what war does to someone's psychy, for what society still deems as unimportant (men's mental health) it is a good character study. Obviously being that this is a true story the book will provide much better insight
@@Thamb0 Books obviously have more capacity to tell better stories. The point of this review is to look at how the movie worked. If someone didn't read the book and the movie still holds up on its own then it is a good movie, regardless of its relation to the source material.
@@declangill5138 I have been deployed 3 times, so I get why showcasing mental health is important. I was more so implying that the movie (in my opinion) does not show who Chris Kyle was really at all. It felt extremely one dimensional and shallow. I am glad you enjoyed it and found it meaningful though!
@@Thamb0 I wasn't trying to imply you were wrong in any way shape or form. In fact I think having served your view would carty significantly more weight than mine. I enjoy movies that don't glorify war because its nothing to be glorified
It's an excellent movie about an interesting, deeply flawed character. Kyle was both a hero and a liar (his odd lies were not a part of the film at all), and the film makes us wrestle with the moral ambiguity of decisions forced on soldiers and civilians in wartime as well as the effects these actions have on families. The way he died is a lousy end to the good he was trying to do in the world, despite all the questionable actions and stories he was involved with. Interesting man, life, and film; lots of questions to be asked, which generate lots of interesting thought and conversation.
hey Crit, I know you're not into reviewing ancient movies, but the original 'all quiet on the western front' with Lew Ayers has never been matched, imo. would love to hear you compare it to great modern war films.
@@SilverSlugVideos thanks a lot!! I'll check it out. [edit: I checked out his vids from the last few months and couldn't find anything. perhaps you're confusing it with his review for 'paths of glory'?]
The job that Bradley Cooper did in this film is amazing. You can feel the increasing tension on his figure and body language. His best performance in my opinion.
When this movie first came out there were like six specific things that I remember people like to talk about, people who knew more could add in the reply section 6. The award season 5. Historical context 4. Chris Kyle 3. Bradley Cooper (and maybe a little bit of Sienna Miller) 2. The movie as a whole 1. The prop baby, man that was noticable and unintentionally hilarious. Props to Bradley and Sienna for being so serious with that fake baby 😂😂😂
As a person who lived through the war for my first 5 years of life, let me tell you that the movie is a good one, but it doesn't really show you some unimaginable sht people go through to stay alive.
@@killerhellhound because last 'mostly-military' war was WW I. Form then onward, majority of crime/losses/suffering/carnage is either collateral or intentional damage to civilians and property, including one essential for any safety and quality of life.
Maybe it's just me, but I think Bradley Cooper should've been the one to play Joel in The Last of Us. Just from American Sniper alone, it feels like an audition.
Aren’t you going to mention the fact he was a liar and got sued for completely fabricating stories and that his kill count has been called into question since
An excellent underplayed late era Eastwood directed flik, like the equally (and perhaps superior) Richard Jewell and The Mule, with two fantastic performances from Cooper and Miller, and the use of Morricone's stunning The Funeral from the classic 1965 spaghetti Western Return of Ringo (Clint remembering his roots!!) over that gut wrenching ending is a mark of the greatest actor/director of them all
Jesus Christ, that figures Michael Moore would say something like that. Sniper is one of the hardest and most dangerous bitch of a job in the military. It isn't like video games where you just sit up in the safety of a nest all comfy cozy.
One of the few films as a grown man I cried at I the cinema. Though a Brit I could see the situation our own troops were put in during a war we shouldn't of been in. Chris paid the ultimate price for being a good guy and just trying to help. From my Grandfather I know the horror of war takes its price in war and when you get home. Thank you CD for this review.
@@mattmark94 That may or maybe not the case. Its Hollywood. But it doesn't change the feelings I had when I left the theatre. Nor the performance of the actors.
How about a review of ‘71 - similar environment of urban and guerrilla warfare during the Troubles in Northern Ireland, and the morally grey complexities
@NmDPlm: It may have sailed too close to the whole truth of the situation to get as much exposure as it should have had. And although Michael Bay did a fantastic job, his name may have worked against it being treated as seriously as it should have been. Excellent cast, script, action, even the dashes of humour worked. Almost perfect really.
This is a great movie. Definitely captures military members real personalities, maybe better than any other movie I’ve ever seen - as well as the actual day-to-day effects of ptsd. I was in the Air Force and I only served in Saudi Arabia in the Middle East but I work with veterans who went to Iraq and Afghanistan and the sense of brotherhood and the attitude they have is in this movie.
It's actually sad that Chris Kyle managed to save a lot of people and survive in his many tours but couldn't save himself in his own home. Rest In Peace to a hero 🙏
He was killed at a shooting range by a piece of treacherous sub-human filth. He didn't die at home. I get it, you probably meant America as his home, but still.
@@bandit6272 Look man, I'm not from America so I really don't know Kyle's other background that the movie didn't explore, so yeah I said "home" as when he's killed in America because that's where he's from, not in one of his tours
Just a nitpick from a vet. Chris wasn’t a Marine. His and other Seal teams deployed in the same battle space as Marine units and they worked in cooperation a lot to support one another. But Seals are navy, and I suppose it can make it more confusing that marines are a separate branch technically but also a department of the navy lol. Well said on everything though!
The best scene in the movie was Chris's funeral procession during the credits. (Which I believe was added later due to his murder) Eastwood didn't add any sad, emotional music. It was completely silent, which seemed to make the scene that much more impactful
Small nitpick: Chris Kyle wasn't a Marine, he was in the Navy. Edit: yes, I know that the Marines are _technically_ considered within the department of the Navy, but for all intents and purposes, they're a separate branch.
I read his book. That movie was his autobiography in name only. The ptsd was not in the book. The sniper contest between him and the Olympic shooter was not in the book (Chris wasn't even in country most of the time the iraq guy was killing people), and he said multiple times he had fun being deployed and liked his job because he saved american men. He had zero problems killing enemies. They dramatized his story to make him more appropriate to what the audience wanted to see in a war movie, not how he actually was.
This former soldier believes we had no business in Iraq and we accomplished everything we were going to accomplish in Afghanistan in the first 6 weeks. Every day after week six was padding vested interests bank accounts. We did not invade Afghanistan for female literacy.
He wasn't a Marine sniper Drinker, he was a Navy SEAL, never confuse the two or the Marines will throw crayons at you pointy end first.
They might throw if they can stop eating them 🤣
I came here to point this out. Thanks.
Crayons pointy end first...
That's a unique threat I have to remember.
@@SouthoftheHill Been there…My crayon tastes like the number Q! 🤣
Oh... So what's a scout sniper? He was recruited out the Marines gentlemen. Back then they also let all branches of service try out for buds.
It's okay if you didn't know this because back then there was no such thing as a Navy Seal.
(Thanks Obama)
It;s kind of insane that Eastwood would direct the most successful film of his career at the age of 83!
And the fact that it's a biopic war movie that he's handling at that age. Like this is a big heavy subject matter that's not easy to tackle, Eastwood knocked it outta the park in making this considering his age especially in making those action scenes
This was one of the few films from Clint Eastwood that I went to the theaters with my dad to see.
Brings back memories
I never realised he directed it.
He definitely knows how to show restraint
Not that surprising since he came to hollywood when gritty movies of men being men were the norm. he watched actors and knew what it took for greatness. he took that and turned the story telling that he grew up on and made movies he knew he would enjoy. he never cared what hollywood thought and made movies based on the character in the story, not some idea of what the people wanted the character to be. it makes for a more grounded and real movie no matter the setting. i think he could this even in scifi if he wanted to.
He's clearly much more lucid than certain basement dwelling octogenarian.
Hello Drinker. US Marine here... Great video. For clarity, Chris never joined the US Marines, and he didn't retire from The Marine Corps. He originally wanted to join The Marines, but was talked into joining the US Navy instead (treated as a complete separate branch of military from The Marines) , with the hopes of becoming a US Navy Seal, which he eventually did.
I don't recall if he retired, but he only served 10 years. One does not retire from the military unless they serve 20+ years of service, or are medically retired due to injuries or long term illnesses. As far as I know (and I'm no Chris Kyle historian), he simply served ~10 years and did not re-enlist for another term. I, myself, served nine years.
To be medically retired, you have to have suffered irreversible medical damage which renders you un-deployable. I knew of one individual who was medically retired before he saw the fleet due to a botched surgery performed by the US Navy hospital which killed his control of being able to urinate, and I also knew a guy who was medically retired when they found out he had leukemia on his separations physical. I believe certain levels of PTSD also qualify for medical retirement, but I don't know if CK was retired for that reason.
-Tony.
Thank you for your service.
I'm the guy who likes Punisher comics and got shot in the head. Not everything is as it seems my friend. Semper Fi.
Thanks Tony
When did the Marines stop being the Navy's army?...
@@natethegr8230 Ditto. Thank you tonyben3 for your service. The silent majority out here thanks you.
I was going to college in Stephenville Texas when the trial for his killer was going on there. This movie was still in theaters at the time and the atmosphere in the theater was intense. At the end no one clapped, they just sat through the credits and walked out in silence. It was very moving.
Karma took care of him.
This isn’t the sort of movie you “enjoy” but it is so well done you feel something at the end.
@Accountant The I was talking about CK too
Spoiler alert!
@@accountantthe3394 hows that for an assumption
I remember watching this movie in the theatre. I have never seen a better example of a"deafening silence" than when the epilogue was playing. You could feel every person holding back their emotions for it, not wanting to be the one to ruin the moment. One of the few movies I've seen where when the credits rolled, a standing ovation was given by all in the crowd.
Admittedly that makes me very sad. I mean, I whole heartedly agree that americans have just as much right to feel good about their country as everybody else and that the woke nonesense needs to stop, but it's diffficult for me to grasp that snippering children in a country that was illegally invaded by the US didn't elicit a different kind of reaction.
Apparently everything US troops do must be right and just and there's not even the hint of a thought concerning the illegality of US troops operating within Iraqi territory at all. If I were an american I would be very upset at the thought that a man like Chris Kyle can comfort himself by thinking that he acted on my behalf and with my interest in mind. I would object to both and refuse to acknowledge this man as a hero of my country.
Shut up
@@Ryan_Winter there are some of us around...we just tend to keep quiet because were surrounded by normies like the poster that are brainwashed into that mindset. I've said for years, including during my time in the USN, that we have zero reason to be in most foreign countries. Most of these nitwit civilians still don't know there were never any WMDs. They dont know Pat Tillman was assassinated when he said he would expose troops were protecting poppy fields in Afghanistan troops we were protecting oil fields. The simple fact the entire Demorat party hasn't been hung for treason during its reign of terror and oppression on all minorities they could find since inception proves many ignore reality.
@@Ryan_Winter the thing is we’re brainwashed
I actually enjoyed American Sniper from start to finish. Despite some historical inaccuracies, I still appriciate the filmmaking craft to it from Clint Eastwood's direction, cinematography, the sound design, the musical score aswell as Bradley Cooper and Sienna Miller's magnificent performance, it's a pretty good movie overall. Idk anything about Chris Kyle so I just watch it as a simple war movie about one man and for the most part I got that
Well you know a bit about him after the movie I guess.
Name me a movie where they don't take libirties with the real history lmfao
@@jabronisauce6833 Idk, i just wanna watch a good movie. Not all historical movies are that accurate to the real story anyways but some were still good
Just some historical inaccuracies?
@@toromcjohnson4069 Idk, I could assume like other biopics, there could be right and wrong in the movie
Typically when I'm hyped about a movie and want to see it on opening weekend I buy a ticket for the first viewing on Sunday morning because here in Texas most people are just getting out of bed at 10am or they're at church. I had never been to a 10am Sunday viewing that had more than 25% capacity and often I could sit anywhere I want. I thought American Sniper would be the same. So, I got up, had breakfast and made my way to the theater in no particular rush. Stopped in the parking lot for a ceremonial pre-viewing smoke, picked up a drink and popcorn and made my way to the theater screening room. When I turned the corner and looked up at the seating the house was packed shoulder to shoulder and the only available seats were on the front row.
I'm just glad they made the movie.
Veterans who were in action usually never tell anyone what they went through because they can't tell people what the movie showed.
Civilians cannot comprehend it.
Rest in peace, Chris Kyle.
You can tell he writes a compelling essay when you hardly notice that the video is basically the same half dozen clips just repeating, assuming to avoid any copyright issues ;)
I notice it particularly _because_ it's a compelling essay, and the first time through the clips match the topics he's discussing. Also, more than one set of clips.
Yeah, the clips are mostly just to give your eyeballs something to do, but you can just listen to his content and catch everything important. It's why The Drinker is my go-to to put on whenever I have to do menial tasks that require visual engagement but not intense focus, like shaving, doing dishes or cleaning guns.
I saw this in theaters and the thing I remember most was the sound design. Hearing the bullets whiz past or through characters was absolutely visceral
Black Hawk Down was better. And more intense too.
@@DestinyAwaits19 agree but they're also different kinds of war movies trying to show different aspects of war so comparing the two is kind of pointless
@@sullysosavage365 I don't like war movies that humanize people.
@@DestinyAwaits19 fair enough
Clint Eastwood, one of the very few people in Hollywood that I actually respect, and American Sniper is easily one of his best works to date.
Not sure Kyle was so emotionally torn as the film suggests. I saw an interview where he stated that he had 250 confirmed kills and his only regret was not getting any more.
Yep, he was a bloodthirsty MF
I'm sure he had some issues like all the men who served in combat the film like real life never makes him regret taking lives it the fact that he leaves and doesn't fight that he regrets
Yeah ol’ boy was a confirmed liar and lunatic, definitely better to just enjoy the movie for what it is without any baggage though.
He saw every kill as saving American lives by stopping an enemy, he wasn't conflicted about the morality of the war or of killing, but he certainly was physically and emotionally affected.
@@johntabler349 Please, how could you say that when he literally lied and bragged about the US Government sending him to New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina to kill "looters", he claims he sat on top of the Superdome and killed 30 people. Dude was absolutely full of shit and didn't care about anything but his marks. Let's not forget his dumb beef with Jesse Ventura.
Eastwood rarely disappoints.
We best appreciate the few years of Clint we have left.
Few? You really think Death has the balls to come for Clint Eastwood?
@@specialk9424 When Clint ever leaves this Earth it's gonna be Death handing him the reigns as his successor
The last thing anybody will see in their life is the Man with No Name
@@Jacob-vh8bf That actually works. But then people would be so excited to die, cause you get to meet Clint Eastwood.
Saw this in the theater with my dad. Extremely profound experience even though I knew the whole story. When the film ended not a single person in the theater made a sound, no one stood up to leave, just sat there letting what they'd just seen soak in. I've never experienced anything else like it.
Same thing happened to me with Platoon
Wow I didn't expect this comment to talk about what happened and everyone sitting there in silence i can't imagine.
This was the first R-rated movie I saw in theaters, and I’m glad I watched it. It’s not overly complex, but it does a great job showing how ptsd changes a person and everyone around them.
That scene where he begs the kid on the other end of his scope not to do it, not to make him kill him, it's great.
In under 5 seconds I could tell you put this movie on in the background while you scrolled twitter
I was an extra in this movie. Filmed a nighttime scene with Bradley Cooper and Clint Eastwood. Just being on set you could feel that this movie was going to be impactful. At the time it wasn’t really announced. But it turned out to be a damn good movie overall.
So if you were an extra, tell us…was it fun?
@@rogermcbadlad2812 yeah it was a memorable experience. We filmed on the same set as Iron Man 1 where he first uses the suit, the middle eastern looking town. Almost didn’t recognize Bradley Cooper cause he was so buff. The crew and talent were all great to work with.
Woot , backgrounds and Extras... go here , go there, you'll get food soon ... here , have some water.
''Alright , everybody back to Ones''
Proof?
@@rustythecrown9317 pretty much sums up being a background actor lol
I really dont want to like movies about how sad it made americans who invaded countries that they had no place being in. But American Sniper along with The Hurt Locker were both excellent movies, with great scripts and acted really well. They show how difficult situations can be for the personel on the ground.
Bradley Cooper really threw himself in to this role as well, he didnt try to overplay it and by all accounts his portrayal of Chris Kyle was spot on. Its pleasing to see actors do justice to real life people, especially ones as brave as Kyle obviously was.
Totally agree Drinker. A fine movie that politicians of all stripes ought to be made to watch this at least once a week.
13 Hours too
Why
@@testcase6997 "A fine movie that politicians of all stripes ought to be made to watch this at least once a week"
To show how bad things get when politics gets in the way of protecting people and supporting the men on the ground
It's a fine example of right wing propoganda. Kyle himself was an unpleasant unforgiving rascist individual, which the film effectively ignores.n
@@tonykennedy8483 How does this do that?
Am so glad i saw it on the big screen, was an old school cinematic experience, wish more films had this feel to them.
Movie is different from his autobiography. No uncertainty or guilt in his book. He was saving American lives and was proud of it.
I love the scene in the movie where he is at home and just staring at a blank screen. That was such a powerful scene. It perfectly captured the idea of PTSD and him being in two worlds at once and seeing combat everywhere. I have never been in a war but was once violently attacked and had semi-PTSD and it seemed like threats were everywhere and I think that scene captured that really powerfully (he sees combat even in an unlit TV screen). Also, this movie didn't do well with most critics and they didn't promote it but it did very well with "middle America" and people and communities that served in the wars.
Bradley Cooper did such a convincing job portraying Chris Kyle a lot of fans were genuinely let down when Cooper revealed he is nothing at all like Kyle politically.
Hey Drinker. I just really appreciate you making the honest effort to understand the struggles of Service Members. Thanks.
I found it interesting that some people complained that the film glorified war too much, while others thought it was anti-war. Eastwood really walked the line without becoming preachy and let the viewer draw their own conclusions. IMO even the best causes can wear down the strongest people.
@Joe42m1: Good comment. Imho, there are 'War Movies'. and then there are 'Movies About War'. 'War Movies' are intended to entertain, and so avoid provoking thoughts which might distract from the screen, or the beer and pizza. 'Movies About War' are intended to give the audience something to think about, and American Sniper certainly does that.
My close friend trained Bradley Cooper for this movie. Even got his name in the credits he also trained Chris Kyle. He was in the teams for 25 years and was offered a part along side Kevin Lacz but turned it down like an old school frogman lol. Despite what some are saying Chris was well liked in the teams. I have heard some amazing stories about him and he was definitely a shit disturber lol. Thanks for reviewing drinker!
16 years I served as a Scout Snipper in the USMC. I meet Chris a few time and he was a good man. The enemy used to draw up wanted posters using our tatts. I remember showing the poster to some greens and told them all my tatts dont go below my sleeves and the only way someone would have seen them is after my shower. Told them the enemy is behind wire, and have a good sleep ;)
The only enemy we should be fighting is our own government.
@@Ambusher1st Based
🤔🤨😐
So tatts are actually a bad thing since you made yourself an easier target.... correct?
@@greggibson33 Having cameras/phones in a FOB kind of makes you stick out.
Saw this in theater, the epilogue had grown men weeping in the seats.
No one spoke as we left.
I still haven't rewatched it.
As an Iraqi war veteran, I love this movie though I find it hard to watch. It stays true to the feelings of the war itself, it goes beyond that to make a good piece of cinema. Good on ya Drinker!
Clint Eastwood is, if not one of the best directors left, the best director still around in Hollywood. He didn't heavily rely on the CGI, and he was able to tell a story from beginning to end efficiently.
I saw this movie in the theater on my 41st birthday when it was first released - to say the ending was a gut punch is an understatement, and I knew the ending before I walked into the theater. A testament to Bradley Cooper and Clint Eastwood's talent for sure.
Goddamnit, 3:25 through and Drinker is explaining the gritty reality of PTSD that the film explores and I burst out laughing. It's because it's the scene where Bradley Cooper is holding a fake baby and I'm remembering an interview with one of the cast explaining why they had to use the obvious fake and pointing out that Bradley was doing his best by pretending the baby was moving by pushing it's arm with his thumb.
That is pretty funny
Hollywood rules are pretty restrictive when it comes to filming babies held by adults. Which is hideously ironic given their zealous defense of unlimited abortion, the seedy stories of sexual abuse of children, and the more recent defense of grooming.
IIRC, there were two baby "actors" for the scene; the first had a fever and the second did not show, so they had to improvise.
Lmfao I totally forgot about the fake baby
I've been scrolling through the comments waiting for someone to mention it.
This old Navy veteran thanks you for this video. I appreciate it, Sir.
I really appreciated the attention to details. The water bottle filled with sand used to close doors in the tents and other military buildings, for example. If you paid attention, you could also see how the equipment and facilities changed for each deployment. They paid a lot attention to those small things and it made it feel a lot more real.
I thought the portrayal of the enemy sniper was a tired trope and did little to help the story. It wasn’t real, it was kind of ridiculous. It was an unfortunate failure to appreciate the audience’s intelligence by using that cliche.
Chris Kyle is from my hometown so this movie was especially big here. I'm glad that you enjoyed it
The week I moved to Dallas was the week of Chris Kyles funeral. I remember pulling over and standing in the rain as thousands of cars drove in the funeral procession down I-30 in south DFW. He was a man who touched a lot of people in the community. I do a lot of PRS shooting And even now when I go to the range I hear stories from guys who knew him. If those stories are true he did some real Paul Bunyan shit in the Middle East. RIP sir!
Watched on your recommendation Drinker and it didn’t disappoint… that ending though, proper gut punch. 😢
This story was a hard watch at times, but incredible and powerful. It made me cry like a baby.
It was complete bullsh*t 😂
When I watched this movie, I actually forgot I was watching Bradley Cooper. That is how good an actor he is.
Drinker, have you done an Extra Shots video on Hamburger Hill? If you like this sort of gritty grounded realism of dudes just suffering and bonding through war, I highly recommend it.
Good movie.
@@spencerstabio5936 Great movie==just had the misfortune of being overshadowed by Platoon.
One of the BEST Vietnam War movies!
Why Chris Kyle's actual teammates dislike this movie and what they say it got wrong about Chris Kyle:
LT Leif Babin: "Chris Kyle was not this dark and brooding guy. The real Chris Kyle was absolutely hilarious, always cracking jokes, sometimes when he shouldn't have." He remembered one time he found him passed out on the rooftop with spaghetti o's all over his uniform. Babin also said the combat scenes were bullshit, Ramadi was WAY more intense, more similar to the ending battle scene in Saving Private Ryan where several of the main characters died.
Senior Chief Tony Eafrati: "I really liked him a lot. He had a really good sense of humor, sometimes kinda even you know immature, which is not at all what people expect of him."
Kevin Lacz, junior SEAL to him: "Chris was an extremely humble person, always deflecting praise to the people around him."
Look at interviews around him, he's extremely personable, positive, hilarious, and even kind of shy.
Some people have PTSD in addition to many other battlefield related issues such as moral injury and simply adjusting back to normal society(a big deal for some guys like them), however that was not a significant issue for Chris his condition was extremely high empathy - the love he had for his brothers in arms, even a few lost or potentially could have saved had a massive impact on his conscience.
The sprinkler scene was really fantastic. He just hears - off in the distance, not paying attention to anything - a sprinkler - and it throws him back there. It's really a brilliant piece of direction. I am sure that these every day events are far too common.
For anyone in West Texas there’s a memorial to Chris Kyle just east of Odessa on Highway 191.
My uncle is a SEAL and knew this dude personally. Always gave him weird vibes and was upset that the movie left out some of the more f’ed up things he did. To this day he dislikes the movie
Ya its weird that Chris Kyle made up some weird stories having had so many real tales to tell.
Yep, Chris Kyle was a bullshitter who may have been borderline psychotic. Respected Special Forces personnel do not carry themselves, talk or brag like Kyle did.
@@JB50cal That was a clear sign he had trouble with reality.
From what I've heard a lot of people who knew him didn't really like him all that much and the movie just made it worse.
Umm.... how many guys out there who kill 100's of people and are normal?
This movie is absolutely brilliant. I loved every second of it, and had to watch it twice, to let it really sink in... Thanks for the review you made... I appreciate that i wasn't the only one enjoying the hell out of this flick...
I enjoyed the film and was amazed by Kyles career and his astonishing achievements. Whilst Enemy at the Gates also gives an interesting take on snipers in war, I am surprised slightly that Simo Hayha has never had a film made of his life and service. As the deadliest sniper in the history of recorded war the Finnish ski trooper earned the sobriquet "the White Death" from his Soviet enemies. In his memoir, only discovered in 2017, he estimates around 500 kills, though his comrades at the time thought the figure much higher.
*I am surprised slightly that Simo Hayha has never had a film made of his life and service*
That would be a brutal movie if done correctly. What is interesting about Simo other than no scoping hundreds of soldiers and officers, is that many of his kills weren't snipe kills, and came up close and personal in the forests
with the way all these supposedly 'based on true story' war movies usually bastardize the real history and true portrayals of these men, I would prefer that a movie never be made of him...
Chris Kyle was a lunatic and liar
Clint Eastwood really knows how to grip you and make you hooked on characters, he really understands the importance of good character development.
Bradley Cooper is a really underrated actor in my opinion.
His performance in "A Star is Born" alongside Lady Gaga is phenomenal and their chemistry come across so strong and beliveable
Hey Drinker, I met Sam Jones (Flash Gordon) a few days ago at Brisbane Australia Supanova (Australian Comic con). Awesome guy!
I always hear hes a great dude. Glad to have further confirmation of that
Its funny how I mainly know him for snorting coke and fighting a goose in Ted lol.
The real footage at the end of that movie made me tear up. Not gonna lie.
I know there were inaccuracies but man, it's a character study that we should honestly all watch and take notice of.
A better character study would be to read the book. The movie does nothing to provide an adequate character study.
@@Thamb0 from a mental health stand point, from a pov of what war does to someone's psychy, for what society still deems as unimportant (men's mental health) it is a good character study. Obviously being that this is a true story the book will provide much better insight
@@Thamb0 Books obviously have more capacity to tell better stories. The point of this review is to look at how the movie worked. If someone didn't read the book and the movie still holds up on its own then it is a good movie, regardless of its relation to the source material.
@@declangill5138 I have been deployed 3 times, so I get why showcasing mental health is important. I was more so implying that the movie (in my opinion) does not show who Chris Kyle was really at all. It felt extremely one dimensional and shallow. I am glad you enjoyed it and found it meaningful though!
@@Thamb0 I wasn't trying to imply you were wrong in any way shape or form. In fact I think having served your view would carty significantly more weight than mine. I enjoy movies that don't glorify war because its nothing to be glorified
American Sniper, The Hurt Locker, and Black Hawk Down are some of the best war movies depicting the modern era.
Don't let anyone from the Teams hear you call Chris Kyle a "marine sniper" 🤣
Well done sir. This film proved to me that Cooper can actually act.
It's an excellent movie about an interesting, deeply flawed character. Kyle was both a hero and a liar (his odd lies were not a part of the film at all), and the film makes us wrestle with the moral ambiguity of decisions forced on soldiers and civilians in wartime as well as the effects these actions have on families. The way he died is a lousy end to the good he was trying to do in the world, despite all the questionable actions and stories he was involved with. Interesting man, life, and film; lots of questions to be asked, which generate lots of interesting thought and conversation.
Brilliant, haunting movie. It's everything we have come to expect from Clint.
This is a great script and valiant, yet sad account of Kyle's story. RIP warrior
That torture scene with the drill was the most upsetting thing I've seen in a movie.
hey Crit, I know you're not into reviewing ancient movies, but the original 'all quiet on the western front' with Lew Ayers has never been matched, imo. would love to hear you compare it to great modern war films.
He literally did a video on it like 2 months ago
@@SilverSlugVideos thanks a lot!! I'll check it out.
[edit: I checked out his vids from the last few months and couldn't find anything. perhaps you're confusing it with his review for 'paths of glory'?]
Good news, Drinker just released a video on it on the main channel.
@@Laurencetw my mistake. You are correct. I think he referenced it in that video and I got confused.
I saw the movie in the theater. I loved the Navy Seal training scenes. The epilogue had people in the theater crying. 👍🏿😍
The job that Bradley Cooper did in this film is amazing. You can feel the increasing tension on his figure and body language. His best performance in my opinion.
Great movie. Another example of Eastwood being absolute chad of a director.
When this movie first came out there were like six specific things that I remember people like to talk about, people who knew more could add in the reply section
6. The award season
5. Historical context
4. Chris Kyle
3. Bradley Cooper (and maybe a little bit of Sienna Miller)
2. The movie as a whole
1. The prop baby, man that was noticable and unintentionally hilarious. Props to Bradley and Sienna for being so serious with that fake baby 😂😂😂
That prop baby haunts my dreams till this day... ;)
@@StigHelmer Lol true, I get that it was a very last minute decision from Clint due to the fact that the actual baby was sick but still why...... 😂😂😂😂
@@prele Mate, gotta problem?
Definitely need to give this a rewatch
As a person who lived through the war for my first 5 years of life, let me tell you that the movie is a good one, but it doesn't really show you some unimaginable sht people go through to stay alive.
If it is not too much to ask, share your stories with us!
if they showed the true sht they wouldnt be allowed to screen the movie anywhere. Some of the stories I have heard are horiffic and evil
@@killerhellhound because last 'mostly-military' war was WW I. Form then onward, majority of crime/losses/suffering/carnage is either collateral or intentional damage to civilians and property, including one essential for any safety and quality of life.
Check out Cody Alford's story about his experience in the Battle of Fallujah.
been there. seen that. it won't go away.
no matter how many years pass.
but.. I'm alive.
IIJM, or does Bradley Cooper look a lot like Robin Williams in some of these shots? 4:15 for example. Probably just the aspect ratio.
Drinker, you’re hands down the best and most astute reviewer, I’m not just saying that as a biased thing being a fellow Scot. It’s genuine fact.
But Drinker, you raucous raconteur, does this film push THE MESSAGE and reflect the world we live in today?
Maybe it's just me, but I think Bradley Cooper should've been the one to play Joel in The Last of Us. Just from American Sniper alone, it feels like an audition.
Aren’t you going to mention the fact he was a liar and got sued for completely fabricating stories and that his kill count has been called into question since
I dint know the story, so the end hitted me really hard. Brilliant movie, kudoes zu good, ol' Clint!
It felt like a jingoist army advert towards the end.
Its a war movie durring a time of war sponsored by the US Military. What was your first clue?
An excellent underplayed late era Eastwood directed flik, like the equally (and perhaps superior) Richard Jewell and The Mule, with two fantastic performances from Cooper and Miller, and the use of Morricone's stunning The Funeral from the classic 1965 spaghetti Western Return of Ringo (Clint remembering his roots!!) over that gut wrenching ending is a mark of the greatest actor/director of them all
He wasn’t a Marine sniper. He was a Navy SEAL sniper.
I can't stand Bradley Cooper, except for this movie. He truly served his character well.
Eastwood made Kris out to be way more virtuous than he actually was that’s for sure
>becomes a bit of a legend amongst his fellow Marines
REEEEEEE
Great film, sad ending, remember it coming out and Michael Moore slagging it off, saying that snipers were cowards.
Jesus Christ, that figures Michael Moore would say something like that. Sniper is one of the hardest and most dangerous bitch of a job in the military. It isn't like video games where you just sit up in the safety of a nest all comfy cozy.
Excellent movie indeed both in acting (probably best Mr Cooper role to date) and direction, good script as well.
Clint will be Clint.
One of the few films as a grown man I cried at I the cinema. Though a Brit I could see the situation our own troops were put in during a war we shouldn't of been in. Chris paid the ultimate price for being a good guy and just trying to help. From my Grandfather I know the horror of war takes its price in war and when you get home. Thank you CD for this review.
The Chris Kyle you saw in the movie never existed. The real guy loved to steal valor and shoot at unarmed civilians.
@@mattmark94 That may or maybe not the case. Its Hollywood. But it doesn't change the feelings I had when I left the theatre. Nor the performance of the actors.
Great film that was snubbed at the Oscar’s for some BS film that nobody ever heard of.
Kyle was the guy bragging about shooting looters in New Orleans right? Sounds like a real hero.
Clint Eastwood just knows how to make awesome movies.
How about a review of ‘71 - similar environment of urban and guerrilla warfare during the Troubles in Northern Ireland, and the morally grey complexities
The comment section would be a dumpster fire, it always is when it comes to n.i.
@@yodaslovetoy ?
Highly recommend Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan!!!
Nice to hear someone mention 13 Hours. Under appreciated and too oft overlooked film.
13 hours is so much better than American Sniper.
@NmDPlm: It may have sailed too close to the whole truth of the situation to get as much exposure as it should have had. And although Michael Bay did a fantastic job, his name may have worked against it being treated as seriously as it should have been. Excellent cast, script, action, even the dashes of humour worked. Almost perfect really.
This was depressingly beautiful. Excellent video you dashing, drinking, daredevil you
This is a great movie. Definitely captures military members real personalities, maybe better than any other movie I’ve ever seen - as well as the actual day-to-day effects of ptsd.
I was in the Air Force and I only served in Saudi Arabia in the Middle East but I work with veterans who went to Iraq and Afghanistan and the sense of brotherhood and the attitude they have is in this movie.
It's actually sad that Chris Kyle managed to save a lot of people and survive in his many tours but couldn't save himself in his own home. Rest In Peace to a hero 🙏
He was killed at a shooting range by a piece of treacherous sub-human filth. He didn't die at home.
I get it, you probably meant America as his home, but still.
@@bandit6272 Look man, I'm not from America so I really don't know Kyle's other background that the movie didn't explore, so yeah I said "home" as when he's killed in America because that's where he's from, not in one of his tours
@@Erasureeraser Like I said, I thought that was probably what you meant. So, I know. The info was just FYI
I watched this for the first time last week!! Weird coincidence!
But yeh, great film. Really enjoyed it.
Just a nitpick from a vet. Chris wasn’t a Marine. His and other Seal teams deployed in the same battle space as Marine units and they worked in cooperation a lot to support one another. But Seals are navy, and I suppose it can make it more confusing that marines are a separate branch technically but also a department of the navy lol. Well said on everything though!
The best scene in the movie was Chris's funeral procession during the credits. (Which I believe was added later due to his murder) Eastwood didn't add any sad, emotional music. It was completely silent, which seemed to make the scene that much more impactful
Small nitpick: Chris Kyle wasn't a Marine, he was in the Navy.
Edit: yes, I know that the Marines are _technically_ considered within the department of the Navy, but for all intents and purposes, they're a separate branch.
Looking forward to what I know will be your inevitable review of Point Break and Dances With Wolves very soon.
I read his book. That movie was his autobiography in name only. The ptsd was not in the book. The sniper contest between him and the Olympic shooter was not in the book (Chris wasn't even in country most of the time the iraq guy was killing people), and he said multiple times he had fun being deployed and liked his job because he saved american men. He had zero problems killing enemies. They dramatized his story to make him more appropriate to what the audience wanted to see in a war movie, not how he actually was.
Yep felt no remorse about killing, even civilians.
@@mattmark94 Just because you aren't part of the military doesn't make you a non-combatant.
Great and Brutal Film!
American snipers is one of the few movies that made me cry.
This movie is EXCELLENT. I highly recommend as well.
This former soldier believes we had no business in Iraq and we accomplished everything we were going to accomplish in Afghanistan in the first 6 weeks. Every day after week six was padding vested interests bank accounts. We did not invade Afghanistan for female literacy.
*3 lettered agencies in the background rubbing hand*
And today Drinker got a crash course in US Military structure 😂😂