The Weekly Movie Watch Volume 48

This week I watched American Sniper, St. Vincent.

I watch movies every week and then write down my thoughts. Read my previous reviews!
My rating is simple, Watch It, It Depends, Skip it.

American Sniper -The work put into making this film shows on screen.

American Sniper (2014)
Watch American Sniper
Written by: Jason Hall (written by), Chris Kyle (book) and Scott McEwen (book) and Jim DeFelice (book)
Directed by: Clint Eastwood
Starring: Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller
Rated: R

Plot: 
Dubbed the legend, Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle serves four tours in Iraq. The movie follows his trials and tribulations in combat and back at home.

Review:
It's a well made film with great performances, especially from Bradley Cooper. The production design is impressive with the sheer number of locations. It captures PTSD and the rift that forms between military and civilian life better than a lot of movies. The book ending of the scene with his father in the beginning was almost too nice. I didn't need the movie framed for me and the scene felt tacked on. It's a movie about Chris Kyle, not about war.
Watch it.

St. Vincent -It's Bill Murray, what more needs to be said?

St. Vincent (2014)
Watch St. Vincent 
Written by: Theodore Melfi (screenplay)
Directed by: Theodore Melfi
Starring: Bill Murray, Melissa McCarthy, Naomi Watts
Rated: PG-13

Plot: 
A middle school student moves in next door to and befriends an ornery Vietnam veteran.

Review:
It sounds like a cliche story because it is, but this one is well done. It adds a number of subplots that make this unique. Despite the fact it doesn't reach the emotional impact it could have or should have due to some odd comedic additions, Bill Murray does an amazing job and is one of the biggest reasons to see this. Naomi Watts portraying a Russian woman seems an odd choice. It diminshed her character because I wondered why it was necessary. There were a number of forced comedic bits that seemed like Melissa McCarthy was trying too hard. While Bill Murray is known from impromptu additions, whatever he may have added felt completely in character.
It depends.