**** Stars
The opening of the latest Iraq War film The Hurt Locker is, predictably, a quote about war. However, instead of having a quote that promotes sloganeering or propaganda, this spellbinding film, unpredictably, begins with a bold statement: "War is a drug." It's a rather unspecified remark, but after experiencing the whole film, it will linger in your mind long after you've left the theater.
Because "Iraq War Movies" have apparently been plagued due to box-office failures, I guess I'll make the claim everyone wants to hear. Yes, The Hurt Locker is the best of the Iraq War movies. However you want to take that is completely up to you.
What really surprised me about this film is how much of an action picture The Hurt Locker is, and how much stronger the film is because of it. Most war films like to have a universal message, an insight to impossible victory, a false hope, or a label of good versus evil. Instead of pleasing anyone, director Kathryn Bigelow throws us into the chaos of one specific group of soldiers and lets both the characters and viewers experience the horrors of war with complete vulnerability. How much more appropriate can you get when dealing with what is considered to be one of the most dangerous jobs in the entire world?
After a tragic accident involving the sergeant of a highly trained bomb disposal team, a new sergeant William James (Jeremy Renner) takes over the team. His two teammates, Sergeant JT Sanborn (Anthony Mackie) and Specialist Owen Eldridge (Brian Geraghty) are surprised at how reckless their new hotshot leader is. James defies the rules of war, and gets away with it because he is very good at what he does. But after some of his behavior begins to jeopardize the original purpose of their endless missions, they soon discover what the term "War is a drug" really means.
The casting is superb. SUPERB. Jeremy Renner is electrifying in the lead role, and without a doubt has the credentials to be a bonafide movie star. There are also several supporting roles given by some Hollywood heavyweights including Guy Pierce, David Morse, and Ralph Fiennes. These are extremely important to the story. The glimpses of these stars shoot a blinding force down the spine because the audience is able to relate to these characters without even knowing anything about them. They bring the balance The Hurt Locker needs in order to sustain war’s painful realizations.
Bigelow gives an astonishing directorial effort here. When dealing with modern war films, she dares to do things most male directors haven't been able to accomplish. For example, not for one second does Bigelow take us out of the battle. There are no aerial shots from above or away from the fight. Those are meant to let the audience know that this is happening somewhere else, and everyone is just a spectator. This time around, we don't have that luxury. All we know is what the soldiers know. We hear planes flying above, see distant gunshots and explosions, notice crowds gathering to watch a street fight, and feel the never-ending fear of death. Bigelow deserves an Oscar nomination for best director, as The Hurt Locker is without a doubt one of the best films of the year.
Because "Iraq War Movies" have apparently been plagued due to box-office failures, I guess I'll make the claim everyone wants to hear. Yes, The Hurt Locker is the best of the Iraq War movies. However you want to take that is completely up to you.
What really surprised me about this film is how much of an action picture The Hurt Locker is, and how much stronger the film is because of it. Most war films like to have a universal message, an insight to impossible victory, a false hope, or a label of good versus evil. Instead of pleasing anyone, director Kathryn Bigelow throws us into the chaos of one specific group of soldiers and lets both the characters and viewers experience the horrors of war with complete vulnerability. How much more appropriate can you get when dealing with what is considered to be one of the most dangerous jobs in the entire world?
After a tragic accident involving the sergeant of a highly trained bomb disposal team, a new sergeant William James (Jeremy Renner) takes over the team. His two teammates, Sergeant JT Sanborn (Anthony Mackie) and Specialist Owen Eldridge (Brian Geraghty) are surprised at how reckless their new hotshot leader is. James defies the rules of war, and gets away with it because he is very good at what he does. But after some of his behavior begins to jeopardize the original purpose of their endless missions, they soon discover what the term "War is a drug" really means.
The casting is superb. SUPERB. Jeremy Renner is electrifying in the lead role, and without a doubt has the credentials to be a bonafide movie star. There are also several supporting roles given by some Hollywood heavyweights including Guy Pierce, David Morse, and Ralph Fiennes. These are extremely important to the story. The glimpses of these stars shoot a blinding force down the spine because the audience is able to relate to these characters without even knowing anything about them. They bring the balance The Hurt Locker needs in order to sustain war’s painful realizations.
Bigelow gives an astonishing directorial effort here. When dealing with modern war films, she dares to do things most male directors haven't been able to accomplish. For example, not for one second does Bigelow take us out of the battle. There are no aerial shots from above or away from the fight. Those are meant to let the audience know that this is happening somewhere else, and everyone is just a spectator. This time around, we don't have that luxury. All we know is what the soldiers know. We hear planes flying above, see distant gunshots and explosions, notice crowds gathering to watch a street fight, and feel the never-ending fear of death. Bigelow deserves an Oscar nomination for best director, as The Hurt Locker is without a doubt one of the best films of the year.
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