Esteemed actor and filmmaker Clint Eastwood has certainly made a name for himself over his extensive career in Hollywood. From starring in classic westerns (“The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly”), to directing films of his own (“The Outlaw Josey Wales, Unforgiven”), Eastwood has had a varied cinematic life, and now, with his latest film, he explores the fields of contemporary warfare, specifically focusing on Navy SEAL and former Texas resident Chris Kyle.

Kyle, who’s been credited with over 160 kills, has been labeled “the deadliest sniper in U.S. history.” He served four tours in Iraq, and assisted disabled veterans on the homefront. He possibly suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder. He lived an interesting life, which makes Eastwood’s bland affair feel so disappointing. “American Sniper” is a largely dull affair, juxtaposing competently filmed scenes of warfare with Kyle’s brief struggles to maintain his family life back in the States. While the premise has potential, the film suffers from an extremely weak script and little to no unique flair to keep the viewer interested. It’s safe to say that the story deserved better.

Bradley Cooper’s performance as Kyle is awfully decent, despite sporting a completely unconvincing southern accent. He’s the primary focus on the film, and he might as well be the only character. Sienna Miller plays his wife, essentially the only supporting character in the film, but her character has so little depth — she’s introduced to Kyle in a bar, and neither her backstory nor her inner motivations are ever truly explored. In fact, Kyle himself is similarly one-note, despite being on-screen for nearly 2.5 hours. His morals are outlined within the first 10 minutes, and his battlefield struggles are reduced to 2 or 3 morally gray situations in which a tough shot must be called. For a film that could have easily explored the effects of warfare on our soldiers in harrowing depth, the result is sorely disappointing.

Eastwood’s direction is equally boring, as he favors static compositions and lack of visual flair. This approach would be more welcome if the actors had been given more material to work with rather than the cliched and messy script that forms the basis of this film. If done right, it could have been a truly riveting picture that delved into a wounded psyche. But as it is, “American Sniper” is a rote, prideful and bland experience.

2.5/5