Report Card----"American Sniper"

"American Sniper" is another version of "The Hurt Locker", which, if you might recall, I hated.
I didn't hate "American Sniper" quite as much.
Probably because I had the low expectations of it being another "Hurt Locker"
It's point of view seemed to be all over the place.
It condemned war.
It glorified war.
Apparently, it also futzed around with the truth.
This is something that has become something of a hallmark of Clint Eastwood.
That, and talking to empty chairs.

On to the scoring:

Is it interesting?

Only occasionally.
C.

Compelling even?

Never.
F.

Is it controversial?

The incompleteness of the details and the ending is somewhat controversial.
That it made 90 million on opening weekend is controversial.
D.

Is it a story worth telling?

Not to me.
C-.

Is it good storytelling?

It consistently rambles.
C-.

Is it well written?

No.
C-.

Is it well cast? Well played?

I've never gotten what all the shouting is about Bradley Cooper.
James Lipton had him on "Inside The Actors Studio, and spent the whole hour practically blowing him.
Cooper added nothing to this.
C-.

Well shot?

Eastwood basically photographed a shoot-em-up, and did nothing to advance the form.
C.

Is it too long? Too short?

Way too long.
C-.

Is it believable? Do you care about the characters?

I don't know what to believe. I don't know what to care about.
C-.

Is it predictable? Does it surprise you?

I didn't know what to expect. The ending seemed to be left deliberately unclear.
C-.

Do you think about it after you've seen it?

Only with dismay.
C-.

Is it funny?

Never.
F.

Would it have been worth the thirteen bucks it would have cost to see it in the movies?

I can't imagine that it would, knowing that I'm in the vast minority.
F.

Is it impressive?

No.

Overall grade: C-.

It was just another empty chair for Eastwood to talk to.


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My books ,"Show Runner" and it's sequel, "Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne and Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperbacks, "Mark Rothman's Essays" and my new novel, "I'm Not Garbo" are not
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I have many readings and signings lined up for those, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one. If you'd like one of the paperbacks, personally autographed, contact me at macchus999@aol.com.

And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne and Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.

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