Pre-release screening of multi-oscar nominated film

Genres: Drama, War
Running time: 133 minutes
Starring: Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller
Age restriction: 16 LV
Directed by: Clint Eastwood

It’s the film industry’s annual ‘awards season’, and the allure of the golden statues is growing. Adding to the #OscarBuzz, Ster-Kinekor is giving audiences the chance to watch special pre-release screenings of one of the biggest blockbuster films releasing this year, the multi-Oscar nominated American Sniper. Bookings are now open to catch this moving military film on the big screen on 11 and 18 February, before its national release on Friday, 20 February.

The film is an account of the Iraq War as observed through the rifle sights of Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, whose four tours of duty cemented his standing as the deadliest marksman in U.S. military history. Having already destroyed several box office records with an estimated US$105 million in ticket sales over its opening long weekend, this is indisputably the highest January opening ever achieved.

The latest figures in from Warner Bros. Pictures and Village Roadshow Pictures (25 January) show the film has now surpassed the US$200 million mark after only its tenth day in wide release. The last time a movie was this big in January was in 2010: Avatar brought in US$68.5 million in its third weekend.

The film’s spectacular opening in the US also marks an all-time high over the course of director Clint Eastwood’s long and illustrious career.  Among its many other milestones, American Sniper broke records for a January weekend opening, including both three- and four-day weekends (16-19 January); the highest single day ever in January; the best four-day weekend for an R-rated film; and the biggest opening for any drama in cinema history.

The pre-release screenings of this Oscar-nominated mega hit stake place at selected Ster-Kinekor cinemas on both Wednesday, the 11^th and Wednesday, the 18^th of February.

For the die-hard IMAX® fans, Ster-Kinekor will also be releasing American Sniper in its three IMAX® theatres – at Gateway in Durban, The Grove in Pretoria East and the recently-opened Cape Gate in Cape Town – on Friday, 27 February.

Oscar-nominated for Best Actor, Bradley Cooper captures the sad, short life of the most prolific sniper in U.S. military history, in the six-time Oscar nominated film, American Sniper. A skillful and straightforward combat picture gradually develops into something far more complex and ruminative in director Clint Eastwood’s film.

Anyone who has seen the Hangover movies knows Bradley Cooper was in great physical shape. But, in order to play the most lethal sniper in U.S. military history in American Sniper, he had to bulk up to add approximately 18kgs of muscle! To get into the role, the actor also worked out for four hours a day for several months and trained with a Navy SEAL sniper to learn to shoot.

The film’s Oscar-nominated screenplay, adapted by Jason Hall, is based on Kyle’s moving memoir, ‘American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History’.  But, there was much more to this lauded war veteran than his incredible skills as a sharpshooter.

Kyle is sent to Iraq with only one mission: to protect his brothers-in-arms on the ground. His pinpoint accuracy saves countless lives on the battlefield and, as stories of his courageous exploits spread, he earns the nickname ‘Legend’. However, his reputation is also growing behind enemy lines, putting a price on his head and making him a prime target of insurgents.

Despite the danger, and the toll on his family and home life, Chris serves through four harrowing tours of duty in Iraq, personifying the SEAL creed to ‘leave no man behind’. However, upon returning home to his wife, Taya Renae Kyle (Sienna Miller), and two children, Chris finds that it is the war he can’t leave behind.

For more information on the American Sniper pre-screenings, download the Ster-Kinekor App on your Nokia, Samsung Android, iPhone or Blackberry phone for updates and to book from your mobile.  To find out what other exciting promotions Ster-Kinekor has on offer, visit www.sterkinekor.com or follow @sterkinekor on Twitter or Facebook at Ster-Kinekor Theatres. For queries, call Ticketline on 0861 MOVIES (668 437) or you can book at the box office.

 Movie trailer:

*Please note:
This trailer contains scenes of violence that some viewers may find disturbing and is not suitable for viewers younger than 16 years. Viewer discretion is advised.