Film: American Sniper

The Hangover’s Bradley Cooper delivers a superb performance as Navy Seal Chris Kyle in this true story from director Clint Eastwood.

The patriotic Kyle decides to enlist and after intensive training is soon deployed to Iraq where he is used as a specialist sniper. His role is to protect ground forces but the highly trained Kyle decides that he must help his less experienced colleagues on the ground. A series of incidents follow, each very intense and harrowing.

These events coincide with Kyle attempting to maintain a healthy relationship with his wife and young family but during periods of time at home he is still consumed by the war.

Can he leave the fighting to others after putting in 4 tours of duty and can he adjust to life back in normal society?

I knew nothing of Chris Kyle prior to seeing this film and there is no doubt that increased my enjoyment of it. It is easy to find out details of this high profile soldier but if you don’t already know then steer clear until after seeing this.

Doubts have emerged regarding the authenticity of events as presented here but regardless of that this is a film that grips from the start and doesn't let go.

American Sniper is in cinemas now.

Ric’s Rating: Highly Recommended. 

DVD: As Blood Runs Deep

Eddie and Shane are two small town boys who spend most of their time on the road trying to earn a few bucks, morals don't come into it. They decide to rob a house in the affluent area of Hilliard but this results in the tragic death of a young boy. Homicide Detective Noah Cordin (Nick Stahl from Terminator 3) is assigned to the case and the investigation leads him back to his home town where a mixed reception awaits.

This feels like a tv movie, but a decent tv movie. Stahl is as dependable as ever and Jonathan Tucker (Hostage) delivers another intense performance. Small town politics involving the victim's mother also add an extra dimension to proceedings.

While this lacks the quality of bigger productions it's still a competent crime thriller that's based on true events.

As Blood Runs Deep (originally known as Meskada) is available on DVD in the UK from 5th September 2011.

Ric's Rating: 57%

Film: 127 Hours

Director Danny Boyle (28 Days Later) brings us the true story of Aron Ralston, a man who was trapped in a mountain crevice for……you guessed it, 127 hours.

James Franco (Spider Man) takes the lead and the film hinges on his performance as the majority of it is spent in his company alone while he attempts to escape his predicament.

Franco does well enough but this is a subject better covered by a tv documentary, a 30 minute one would suffice. There isn’t enough material to flesh out an entire movie. The myriad of clever camera angles and various dream sequences used by Boyle don’t hide the fact that this is 94 minutes spent with a man trapped by a boulder.

It is a remarkable story but this type of thing has been done better before. Touching The Void springs to mind.

Ignore the hype, this 127 Hours felt more like a decade.

Ric's Rating: 41%