A Texan with an indomitable sense of right and wrong, Chris Kyle joined the Navy Seals after terrorists bombed American embassies in the 1990s. Kyle killed over 160 people during four tours of duty as a sniper in Iraq, but struggled with guilt when he returned – not about the deaths, but because, back in America, he wasn’t able to protect his fellow troops. Clint Eastwood directs this biopic with precision and economy, no scene a frame longer than necessary. At its heart is an exceptional performance by Bradley Cooper, who beefed up both physically and emotionally to become the intense, bear-like Kyle. Wisely, both men allow us to make up our own minds about this troubling, complicated chapter in recent history.