By Wilson Morales — January 6, 2015
Currently out in theaters and set to expand nationwide is Clint Eastwood’s “American Sniper,” starring Bradley Cooper as Chris Kyle, the most lethal sniper in U.S. military history. But there was much more to him than his skill as a sharpshooter.
Also featured in the film are Luke Grimes, Sienna Miller, Kyle Gallner, Jake McDorman, Cory Hardrict, Leonard Roberts, Max Charles, Billy Miller, Keir O’Donnell, Eric Close, and Navid Negahban.
U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle is sent to Iraq with only one mission: to protect his brothers-in-arms. 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. He is also facing a different kind of battle on the home front: striving to be a good husband and father from halfway around the world.
Despite the danger, as well as the toll on his family at home, Chris serves through four harrowing tours of duty in Iraq, personifying the SEAL creed to “leave no man behind.” But upon returning to his wife, Taya Renae Kyle (Sienna Miller), and kids, Chris finds that it is the war he can’t leave behind.
For Hardrict, who plays a Kyle’s soldier colleague Dandridge aka ‘D’, this is his second tour-of-duty with Eastwood, having acted in his 2008′s film, ‘Gran Torino.’ In 2014, he was featured opposite Johnny Depp in Wally Pfister’s ‘Transcendence.’ Among his credits include Battle Los Angeles, The Day, Warm Bodies and Lovelace. Upcoming films include indies such asDestined and a starring role in Jamal Hill’s Brotherly Love, and will also be seen in Legendary Pictures’ sci-fi thriller Spectral with Emily Mortimer and James Badge Dale and Car Dogs with Octavia Spencer.
In speaking exclusively with Blackfilm.com, Hardrict talks about his character, working with Cooper, and acting in his second Eastwood film.
How would you best describe your character?
Cory Hardrict: I would say he’s brute. He’s an easygoing guy but when it’s time to get down to business he’s there to protect and serve;. and help out his fellow Navy SEALS. To just be there for them and protect them. I would say that. But he’s ready to go at all times. When it’s time to get down to business he goes all in. So I would say that.
What was the attraction to doing this?
CH: Number one, Clint Eastwood. That’s the reason I did it right there. I worked with him on a film before, ‘Grand Torino’ and I know how he works. I just know that he’s one of the greatest at what he does. The opportunity came up when I actually heard about people going in and reading and auditioning. I got in to get an audition and I went in a couple of times. I went on tape. Clint wasn’t even in the room. I went through the regular process. It took a month just to hear that they really, really liked me and Clint loved it. Then that got down to five people and then it got down to two. Then a month and a half later I got the role. When I heard Bradley (Cooper) was in it I was like, “Wow.” I can’t ask to be in better company than those two. So I was really, really excited.
What does that do for you, as an actor, knowing that you have been able to work with Clint Eastwood in two of his films?
CH: What it means to me is that actors still matter to Mr. Eastwood. He has an old-fashioned way and process. I went to see him at the LA Film Festival before when he was saying that he cast the best actors and if a film works it’s going to work, regardless. So it shows me that it’s all about talent. He appreciates someone who goes in there and just gives it their all. He doesn’t look at the popularity contest or the list, because that shows me that I can go in there and fight for something and book it, just given the opportunity. So it just made me feel really great, as an actor, and it made my confidence go up just to know that I can work in a film of this magnitude with Clint Eastwood, Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller. I feel like I’m in great company and I’m headed in the right direction. It just makes me feel great just about where I’m headed.
How was working with Bradley Cooper? Did you guys do your training together? Did you do any research as far as going off to war?
CH: Well, we did training at Warner Brothers before we went to Morocco. We had training there. We were clearing out different buildings and houses and everything and just all the tactical stuff. We did that on the lot at Warner Brothers. Then when we went to Morocco to clear out the real buildings. We did gun training with the weapons and everything like that. But that was about two weeks later. That was how we went about doing it.
Did any of your training that you did for ‘Battle LA’ come into play here? Here’s another movie where you’re wearing a uniform, where you’re carrying a gun. Did any of that stuff come back to you?
CH: It did. It’s like second nature for me because I feel like once you get the weapon, you fall back into what you know. I’ve been in a few movies like this; and actually the same tactical advisor was my tactical advisor on ‘Battle Los Angeles’. When he was there with ‘Sniper’ I was like, ‘Oh man. I know this guy.’ We fell right in line. And I knew his style and his approach. That helped out tremendously. But it’s like drinking water at a point. I can do these military films in my sleep now.
Did you get a chance to read the book?
CH: Yeah. The ‘American Sniper’ book. It was great.
Is there a message in watching this film, as opposed to the life of Chris Kyle?
CH: Well, the message that I get watching this film is that this guy was a hero. He loved going to war. He loved defending and fighting for his country and it was for a cause. He was a family man. He was a great guy and at the end of the day, it’s an important movie. He left a legacy in the short amount of time that he was here. He was well respected. The story had to be told. It was just an honor being in a film like this.
You had other projects this past year such as ‘Transcendence’. Little by little we’re starting to see more of you. You’ve been working over the last few years. What more do you have coming up?
CH: Well, the next film that comes out with me would be ‘Brotherly Love’. It’s an independent film where I’m a lead in it. I did ‘Spectral’. That comes out in 2016. That was another lead for Legendary. That comes out August. I also did a film called ‘Destined’ that should be coming out towards the end of 2015, as well, in the festival world. ‘Car Dogs’ is going to come out, as well. I did that with Octavia Spencer. So I have a lot of films that are on the cusp of coming out. So I got some things coming that will be pretty cool for the world to see, hopefully.
As ‘American Sniper’ is set to be released nationwide and once you’re done promoting, how do you keep yourself humble? You’ve got a wife. You’ve got a child. How did you spend the holidays?
CH: The holiday time is just family time first. I’ve been away off and on for the past eight months filming. I’m really beat at the moment. I have been away from my son and my wife so I’m home being a family man, being dad. I love that. I feel like everything in life should have balance. I’m at that point now where it’s okay to sit down for a few weeks. A month at least, but after that month it’s like the wheels get to turning again and it’s the competitive nature I know that I’m ready to get back out there and see what’s out there. To look for some great opportunities. I know ‘Sniper’ broke all these records just in four screens. So I know it’s going to do well in January. And hopefully it’ll get nominated. We’ll see.
