American Sniper: Legendary Performance by Bradley Cooper (Spoiler Alert- Ending is revealed.)

I have to apologize for ever discounting Bradley Cooper.  After He's Just Not that Into You and other movies he's been in, I had him deemed as a guy that probably just plays himself, but happens to be in a movie.  So for the record, I am taking back all said comments because the way he played the role of Chris Kyle in American Sniper- I was wrong, very wrong.

This movie entails the true story of Chris Kyle, "The Legend", who was the most accurate sniper in American history. This film doesn't need to be for the veteran, or family of veterans, as it can be for anyone who has empathy for what this man went through over the course of his time as a Navy Seal.

Chris joined the Seals because he simply wanted to defend his country.  There was no other motive.  In his mind, this was the path he had to choose to protect those he loved.  To serve and protect was his purpose.  This task can be quite difficult for anyone, especially those with a wife and children at home.  Chris eventually experienced what I am sure most do.  Coming home wasn't easy.  Serving in a tour where you see death daily then coming home, knowing that it is still continuing while you go to the mall with your wife, or have a home cooked meal, is almost impossible and was for him.  It consumed him to the point where he went on tour after tour to finish what he started.  What would it take to bring him home?

After several attempts, Chris would finally kill the one person he had been hunting for years.  A sniper from the other side.  It was in that moment, when death seemed near even for Chris, that he called his wife, crying, ready to come home.  Although, it wasn't the running into her arms you would think.  After killing so many, even children, seeing innocent people murdered by their own, friends dying, and so much devastation, he may have been physically home, but he was somewhere far away.

It took Chris finding a way to help those back in the states for him to go back to the man he was before the war turned him.  Eventually his smile would return, he would play with his kids, and love his wife the way a husband should.  Unfortunately, this wouldn't last long, because during one of those times where he was helping veterans back home, a veteran would be the one who killed Chris, not a terrorist, or enemy.  Someone from the same roots.

I encourage you to not only bring tissues, but see this movie with an open mind and heart.  We can all be divided in our stances on war.  But what we cannot do, is see this movie without feeling for this man who gave so much, his wife who raised these children on her own, and the heavy burden placed on men and women who come home from tours such as these, completely changed and forever impacted by their experiences.

Clint Eastwood did this perfectly and Bradley Cooper performed his best role yet.  A must see.

Immitation Game: The True Story of Alan Turing

Alan was always different than his peers.  He was a mathematical genius who had a hard time understanding social cues of others.  His on and only friend from school passed away, leaving Alan alone.  As time passed and Alan grew up, his skills would lead him to a special operation with the military during World War 2 in which he and fellow mathematician would work day after day to crack the German Enigma code.

Working with others was not one of Alan's strengths.  In fact, when beginning this mission, he locked himself in a separate room, not to be disturbed, to create his machine that would crack the Enigma codes.  With the military demanding a faster turn around rate and his teammates questioning his time on task with the mission, it seemed Alan was not going to succeed.

Fortunately, Alan did prove himself and what his machine was capable of when the Enigma code was cracked.  This accomplishment brought more burden than they imagined though.  You see, they soon realized they could not destroy Enigma, as this would cause the Germans to create something else and they would be back at stage 1.  They even had to determine which people to save and which not to in order to not seem obvious.  It was hard on all of them.

Alan was also going through some of his own personal dilemmas.  Alan's sexual orientation was masked through his marriage to a close friend and partner at the time.  Eventually she would find out and what transpired was both sad and heartfelt.  Life continued to get harder for Alan from here as the government found out about his secret and gave him hormones to "help him with his problem."  Alan would eventually end his own life as it all got to be to much for him.  He was alone and would always be so.

I didn't know if I was going to be engaged in this movie as I didn't know much about it.  I had never heard the Alan Turing story.  His life had so much triumph and hardship that tugged at my heart strings.  He was a genus and helped save thousands of lives, yet was contemned because he wasn't heterosexual.  The treatments given to him were infuriating.  I left feeling better off for hearing and seeing his story.  It was a well written and had wonderful performances from the cast.  Unsurprising as it is, Benedict Cumberbatch was astounding.

Big Eyes: A Movie Review

Women do not divorce their husbands, let alone work without their husbands approval.  This was the life for Margaret in the 1950's.  She made a bold move and left her husband for a better life with her daughter.  She knew it would be hard but did not realize even finding a job would be a difficult task with her whole dilemma of being a woman and all.  Luckily, she was able to start over.  She found a job  doing something she loved.  Painting.  Yes, it was painting the wood on furniture, but it was painting nonetheless.  So here was Margaret on a beautiful Sunday in the park, showcasing her talent at an art fair, when the man who would change her life forever entered the picture.  

Walter was a passionate artist who won Margaret over immediately.  She was cautious at first, but once he convinced her to be his wife, she was his forever.  Lucky her........

You see, Margaret began to see her new hubby's true colors.  This man of many talents (not really) was not talented in one area in which he claimed to be to everyone he met.  He was not a painter,  He loved paintings and if he had it his way, he would be a painter, but sadly this just wasn't the case for dear Walter.  Walter was, however, an impeccable liar.  In fact, he had the lovely people of San Francisco convinced that the beautiful imagery of his wife's paintings were in fact his.  The Keane signature on each painting was Walter Keane, surely not Margaret Keane.  

It wasn't like Walter started out this way.  He was honest at first and told Margaret someone misunderstood and thought he painted one her of beautiful works of art, but once he realized the profit to be made, the issue occurred that always occurs......money got to him.   Before Margaret knew it, her "Big Eyes" were being sold in every gallery, winning awards, being offered to politicians, actors, world leaders, and even a compilation of first drafts and finished products.  What nobody realized was that Margaret did all of this.  Yes, poor Margaret who sat in her attic all day for long hours, painted every last picture while Walter took the credit.  I think her lowest point was when she had to lie to her daughter who basically called her out on what was happening.  I think every feminist out there would have had a fit.  I certainly wanted to punch her a few times for not sticking up for herself. (Kidding......)  Please do not fret though, Margaret did get her revenge and it was oh so sweet.

This true account was directed by Tim Burton and definitely had his flair throughout.  It was cheesy in a comical way and creatively done.  I need to see Christoph Waltz in something where he plays a good guy because of how well he played the most annoying character ever.  But in all seriousness it was a perfect Sunday afternoon movie that would be wonderful for the creative movie goers who like to see something a little different.

Unbroken: A Movie Review

Louis Zamperini was a kid who knew just where to find trouble.  Whether he was smoking, drinking, or getting caught fighting, he was falling and falling fast.  That is, until his brother got him interested in the sport that would give him winning records and Olympic status.  If only this was the only obstacle he had to overcome in life.

After he was drafted during WW2, Louis and his fellow crew were sent on a mission to rescue a team not yet found.  Unfortunately, it was this crew that would need rescuing.  Louis' plane not only crashed after malfunctioning, but only 3 men survived, and they were stranded in shark infested waters for weeks.  The men were eventually found, but only 2 would leave the sea.

You'd think being rescued would be a good thing, but this is questionable as it was the Japanese who were doing the rescuing.  Louis and his friend were taken to a camp for American prisoners of war.  This new chapter Louis was about to embark on would change his life forever, more than any shark infested sea.

You see, Louis was now at the camp run by "The Bird."  The Bird was known for his evil conduct with prisoners and when he met Louis, he was fixated.  The Bird's mission was to break Louis down until he was nothing.  Whether it was severe beatings, being punched in the face as hard as possible by all of the prisoners at the camp (by order of the Bird), working in harsh conditions with injured limbs, and starvation, he would not stop until Louis faltered.

Here was Louis, one of the fastest runners in history who couldn't be beat, and he was being tested.  Tested on just how much someone can go through before just letting go of life itself.  Louis kept fighting though.  he kept pushing, because that was all any of them could do to get back at the Japanese.  They just had to survive until the war was over.

This true story was one of those movies I delayed seeing.  I knew what it entailed as I read the book, and I just didn't know if I could see it.  I am glad I did.  Angelina did a wonderful job capturing the spirit of this man, this fighter.  It will make you feel grateful for those who put themselves through the worst conditions for others.  It will also remind you that even in circumstances when others hurt you more than imaginable, whether it be physically, emotionally, or both, forgiveness is possible.