The sound of gunfire, shouting, exploding grenades — this is the soundtrack of the soldier. It is a soundtrack that accompanies them home, ingrained in memory, along with visuals they may wish they could have left behind.

How do soldiers cope with the indelible mark war leaves on their psyche and their bodies as well?

The aftermath of wartime service is explored in “American Sniper,” a film based on the memoirs of Navy Seal Chris Kyle. Kyle served four tours of duty in Iraq from 2003-2009. Kyle was a marksman of such extraordinary skill that he was nicknamed “Legend” by a fellow Seal. At that time, no one could have known that when he finally left military service he would be credited with 160 kills out of 255 possible kills. Today, as then, he is the deadliest sniper in U.S. military history.

But his sniper skill-set also gets the attention of the enemy who have another nickname for him — “the Devil of Rimadi.” There ends up being a price on Kyle's head, $80,000, to any Iraqi that can take the Navy Seal out. An Syrian Olympic marksman-turned-sniper, called “Mustafa,” is the enemy's version of Kyle.

Kyle is portrayed by Bradley Cooper, who also co-produced the film. Cooper has been nominated for an Academy Award for this role, and if you see this film, you'll see why.

You accept Cooper as the legendary Navy Seal from the film's first frame. Kyle is in prime sniper position — on a rooftop — and ready to perform his duty: to protect the lives of his fellow soldiers. He watches as a woman and young boy come out of a building … the woman passes a grenade to the boy. This is Kyle's first tour. And it is looking like the boy may end up being his first target.

Cooper's Kyle is really sweating this. You can tell by the way he begins to depress the trigger, then backs off, repeatedly, as he reports the scene to his higher ups. He looks through the sight, looks away … he really doesn't want to have to kill the boy. But it's his job. He cannot let his fellow soldiers be killed. After he does his job, the Seal on the roof with him congratulates him on the shot — Kyle rejects him. As a fellow Seal says to him that night back at the base, “It was your job.”

As the film continues, Kyle becomes fiercely dedicated to that job, saving soldiers. Kyle is so committed to saving the lives of U.S. servicemen/women that during his second tour, he leaves his post on the roof to join Marines and Seals going door-to-door in search of their number one target: Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq from 2004 to 2006, to better protect his brothers in arms.

Throughout “American Sniper,” 90 percent of which takes place in war zones, Kyle’s past is told through memories he experiences while in the field, triggered by thoughts that run through his mind as he is looking through his sniper's rifle sight.

The rest of the story is told through Kyle's wife, Taya's “military experience.”

Sienna Miller plays Taya. Chris learns he is shipping out on his first tour on their wedding day, as they share their first dance together. Although Miller has limited screen time, her portrayal of this serviceman's wife is heartfelt. She conveys the emotional torment of a spouse with honesty, vulnerability and strength.

While pregnant with their first child, Taya calls her husband after a sonogram. She ends up hearing the fighting when Chris drops his phone on the ground, which is where Taya ends up. On her knees. On the sidewalk outside the medical facility. Sobbing.

Taya raises their son and daughter alone. And by the end of the third tour, when Chris arrives back home to Texas in time to see his newborn daughter in the hospital, Taya has some things to say.

As Taya tells him, she's creating memories, experiencing “firsts” with the kids — and she hasn't had anyone to share them with. Taya tells Chris that when he is with his family, it's only physically; she can see him and touch him well enough, but he isn't really there with them.

“If you think this war isn't changing you, you're wrong. You can only circle the flame for so long,” Taya tells him.

His family needs him. In fact, they might not even be home when he returns.

But Kyle's passion for saving U.S. soldiers from the enemy is strong.

During the last tour, however, he's had enough. He has just taken out Mustafa, but in doing so has given away the U.S.' position. Iraqis are coming from all points to take out the Seals and Marines.

According to the film, he began working with other vets after telling a psychiatrist at a VA hospital that his only regret was not being able to save more Marine lives. The doc brings Kyle to an open group session and he joins right in the vets' conversation.

Cooper is brilliant in his portrayal of the dedicated soldier who once thought he'd be on the rodeo circuit for life.

Director Clint Eastwood, screenwriter Jason Hall and cinematographer Tom Stern have created an intense theater experience. The actors are well cast and deliver hard-hitting, gritty, realistic and emotion-filled performances in this thought-provoking journey into war and relationships.

“American Sniper” is playing at The Harbor Theatre at 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 13, Saturday, Feb. 14; Wednesday, Feb. 11 and 18, Thursday, Feb. 12 and 19. There is one remaining matinee at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 15.

The Harbor Theatre is located at 185 Townsend Avenue in Boothbay Harbor. For more information, call 207-633-0438 or visit www.harbortheatre.net.