The Hurt Locker
The eighth feature film by Katheryn Bigelow earned six Oscars of the nine it was nominated for, including Best Picture and Best Director for Bigelow.
This is a very grounded war film based in Iraq, told from the American perspective. There is a lot of violence, gore, and adrenaline pumping action in this film. It is very easy to forget you are watching a movie, which is a huge compliment. The stars disappear into their roles.
The film is shot like a documentary. I completely get why it was done that way (to put you in the battlefield with the soldiers) but the shaky-cam made it very difficult to watch at times. I’m notorious for not liking that style of filmmaking no matter how well done it is. Films shot like this can give me the occasional headache – fortunately this one did not.
The story didn’t really land for me, and I didn’t have any connection to any of the three main characters. They did not have super complex personalities – Jeremy Renner’s only characteristic was recklessness. He was interesting to watch – his character just felt very one note until one of the final scenes when you get a quick flashback to his family life.
This was a good movie, don’t get me wrong. I’m happy I watched this. I didn’t connect to it, but I’m sure there are plenty of people who would. War just isn’t my genre of choice.
Bigelow Rankings:
Despite it being her best recieved film at the Academy Awards, I wouldn’t put it at the top of my own personal rankings.
- Point Break
- Strange Days
- Blue Steel
- The Hurt Locker
- Near Dark
- K-19: The Widowmaker
- The Loveless
- The Weight of Water
Only two more Bigelow films to go! I feel like her filmography is flying by. Next week – Zero Dark Thirty.
