The Hurt Locker tells the story of battle hardened Sergeant First Class William James, who is appointed as the leader of a US Army Explosive Ordinance Disposal unit in Iraq after its previous commanding officer is killed in an explosion.
The film is set during the post-invasion period in Iraq in 2004 and follows the unit as it learns to cope with their new leader’s unorthodox and somewhat reckless methods of working.
Often disregarding protocol just to make things interesting, Sergeant James seems uninterested in playing it safe but soon earns the respect of his unit on the field. The film explores the mentality of a modern day soldier as it takes you through intense bomb disposal scenes and riveting battle sequences. Directed by Kathryn Bigelow who became the first woman to pick up an Academy Award for Best Director, the film ended up with six Oscars including Best Picture.
The film boasts two hours of pure intensity from beginning to end which rested heavily on the setting and the main character Sergeant James who is played by Jeremy Renner best known for his portrayal of Jeffrey Dahmer.
Renner who received a nomination for his role in the movie delivers a gritty and powerful performance as the battle-tested adrenaline junkie who seems to enjoy the intensity and the dangers involved in his job more than he should while only finding purpose in his life when putting on his bomb suit.
Due to the film’s clear focus on its main character the other actors were left with very little to do other than give tolerable performances which would probably go unnoticed in the long run. After all no one cares what the side characters do in a Chuck Norris film, though it must be said that unlike a Chuck Norris film, the protagonist had a thought process a little deeper than the need to mindlessly shoot any living thing.
An interesting aspect of the film was how Bigelow utilises renowned actors for cameos. Characters that would be expected to play bigger roles in the film seem to be killed off quicker than they were introduced, creating a jarring sense of realism where the audience is as uncertain of who will live or die as the soldier is in that situation.
The film has a typical action war movie feel to it but with much greater depth and understanding of its central themes. While making every reasonable effort to be a badass, put-you-on-the-floor-and-smack-you-on-the-back-of-your-head type film, it does manage to accomplish it with some composure and restraint with as few Schwarzeneggerisms as possible.
Though the political nuances of the film is not for everyone and the somewhat generic portrayal of Iraq is distasteful to say the least, The Hurt Locker focuses on its characters more than its political or military setting which it uses with great effect. The film is certainly one of the best of 2009 and a definite must-watch for all, especially Chuck Norris, who may learn a thing or two. |
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