The Hurt Locker

Reviewed by: Ryan

4/4 peels

This movie is incredible. Kathryn Bigelow's sophomore film, The Hurt Locker,  plays out the nervracking life of a bombsquad in the Iraq war. This is quit possibly the best movie made about the Iraq war, and it ranks right up there with the best war movies of all time.

The pacing of the film is immaculate, a slow burn of emotions that lead up to the climax. I also liked the lack of title cards at the begining and throughout the film, a tactic that has been overused in 2009. The dialogue and soundtrack is minimal as well, which, coupled with the lack of title cards, gives the viewer a greater sense of bleakness and forces you to connect to a set of flawed characters.

Jeremy Renner turns in a career performance as SSgt. William James, who, like any good hero, has more than a few character flaws and seems to love the very device desgined to oblilterate him. To round out the main characters, Anthony Mackie and Brian Geraghty turn in beautiful supporting roles.

Rent it or buy it, either way, see this movie!