The Hurt Locker

Leaving a theater in stunned silence can either mean a film left you wanting, or left you satisfied. The Hurt Locker, a film both about the Iraq war and about bomb squad technicians, should leave you immensely satisfied. It is a war film largely devoid of commentary on war and is a story about a tortured man, without focusing on the specific aspects his tortured, crazy life. And these are components that build an interesting film. The Hurt Locker, directed masterfully by Near Dark and Point Break director Kathryn Bigelow and written by Mark Boal, is without a doubt one of the best films of 2009. From beginning to end, there are reasons to laugh, cry, and shrink into your seat. Watching these men, and one in particular, disarm amazingly dangerous bombs in the middle of a war zone is something to behold. Tension can be ratcheted up even when nothing happens, the inherent danger of the situation allows for it. There is no guarantee on who makes it out, especially in a film where big name actors can die as quickly and easily as a real soldier. Jeremy Renner, steals the show, despite it kind of being his show, simply by acting as passionately as his character feels about disarming explosive devices. He, along with Bigelow, are likely in contention for an Academy Award, which the film itself is likely to be recognized for, and I think all are deserving. Such a naked, honest examination of humanity and war, and especially one that doesn't overdo itself, is worthy of high praise at the very least. I am not the first to sing its praises, and likely not the last. For me, I wanted the film to draw to a close at certain points near the end, and thought the actual ending would leave a sour taste in my mouth, only to have an ending so pitch perfect to the tone of the film that it actually made me smile (albeit in a rather twisted way). Certainly worth time and money.

Genre - Drama/Action (4)

Screenplay (4)
Acting (4)
Production (4)
Directing (4)