The war film is being hailed as a ‘masterpiece’ (Image: Warner Bros.)
For most film lovers, when the topic of war movies comes up, a few trusty names lead the discussion and set the benchmark. Films like Saving Private Ryan, Black Hawk Down, and The Hurt Locker have long been seen as masterpieces in the category, with comparisons inevitably circling back to these movies.
Now, viewers are saying there’s another war film by a legendary actor and director, that’s on par with, if not better, than the Holy Trifecta mentioned above.
Fans only have a few more days to stream the ‘masterpiece’ war drama though, as the film is leaving the Netflix catalogue on November 5.
Starring an incredible Bradley Cooper in the lead — who has been endlessly lauded for his titular performance in the film — this 2014 war drama has been directed by acting legend Clint Eastwood.
American Sniper is currently streaming on Netflix — and fans just can’t seem to get enough of the war drama.
The epic war drama is leaving Netflix on November 5 (Image: Warner Bros.)
The film’s official plot states: “Navy S.E.A.L. sniper Chris Kyle’s pinpoint accuracy saves countless lives on the battlefield and turns him into a legend. Back home with his family after four tours of duty, however, Chris finds that it is the war he can’t leave behind.”
Sienna Miller takes on the female lead of the film opposite Cooper, and the leading pair are joined by Luke Grimes, Jake McDorman, Cory Hardrict, Kevin Lacz, Navid Negahban, and Keir O’Donnell in supporting roles.
American Sniper is based on the 2012 memoir of the same name penned by war veteran Chris Kyle with Scott McEwen and Jim DeFelice. The war drama was a mammoth hit at the global box office, earning $547 million against a production budget of approximately $59 million.
Not just a commercial success, the film was a critical darling too, having been nominated for six Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Actor for Cooper, ultimately bagging an Oscar for Best Sound Editing.
Critics were impressed with the war drama, as one wrote in a review: “It’s not often that a movie can spur a reaction from both the heart and the mind, and this film does just that.”
The ‘outstanding’ war film was nominated for six Oscars (Image: Warner Bros.)
Another reviewer said: “American Sniper does the near impossible, celebrating the warrior spirit while refusing to look away from the chaos it generates. It will leave you with your pulse racing, and your heart aching.”
While one critic noted: “Although it is a better written and made film then The Hurt Locker which won the Oscar, American Sniper is just as determined to ring emotional bells for an America that has lost much of its self assurance on the world stage.”
Yet another impressed reviewer added: “American Sniper may not be the strongest biopic in the genre, but it is on par with other acclaimed military action-thrillers like Black Hawk Down or The Hurt Locker.”
Audiences have been left equally captivated, with one fan writing: “An intense and gripping war movie with powerful performances, realistic combat scenes, and an emotional story. A must-watch for war movie lovers!”
While another viewer posted on IMDB: “Man….. This film hits me like a truck. Everything about this film is perfect, the sound editing, the acting, the action sequences are perfect. This film is a masterpiece and one of the best war movies I’ve seen since “Saving Private Ryan”. Overall, it is one of the greatest war films that I have ever seen.”
Fans say ‘everything about this film is perfect’ (Image: Warner Bros.)
One fan of the movie noted: “Every now and then a movie comes out that is just fantastic and American Sniper is one of them. Its the only movie I would give 10 out of 10 The acting is great. Action is brilliant. Story was outstanding. A great true story that is the best movie of the year. Loved it.”
They added: “Clint Eastwood did a great job of making a classic film that will go on for years. Its no wonder it is a box office success, the movie was great. The ending could not have been made any better, the impact it had on the audience was pretty dramatic. You have got to see it.”
American Sniper is available to stream on Netflix till November 4.
