When an octogenarian delivers a 21st- century war film to rival anything a younger gun could produce, he deserves our respect. So it's hats off to Clint Eastwood, who at 84 clearly has no problem commanding epic material from behind the lens. Unfortunately, American Sniper, like a number of other films he has directed, doesn't tick all the emotive boxes - or any, in my case. It may well turn out be the male equivalent of Bridges of Madison County for Clint's fans, but I found this bio-pic about Navy SEAL, Chris Kyle, laborious and cold. Even with the exceptional talents of a much heftier Bradley Cooper as the understated saviour of the troops, this tale of an authentic hero is hard to watch when Europe is battling the enemy on its streets.

On-screen soldiers are desperate to high-five the protagonist for his record-breaking 160 kills of suspected insurgents on the streets of Iraq. Kyle became obsessed and determined to save as many men as he could during his four tours of the country and could think of nothing else when he was back home with his young wife (Sienna Miller) and children. In real life, Kyle's survivor's guilt and inability to let go must have been awful, but Clint is careful about what we get to see, possibly out of a sense of loyalty to the hero.

As a result, home time feels hollow. I think it may be time for America to take a break from churning out films filled with generic terrorists shouting Allahu Akba as it feels reckless. You only have to see this week's other release, the deeply-effecting Testament of Youth to understand the pointlessness of loss during war. The hideous irony of American Sniper is that the ultimate tragedy for Kyle occurs away from the battlefield.