The Hurt Locker (2009) Review

Title: The Hurt Locker
Year: 2009
Director: Kathryn Bigelow
Country: US
Language: English

In the past when I reviewed war films I'd look for the pollical commentary. Is this film pro-war (American Sniper) or anti-war (All Quiet on the Western Front) ? Hollywood can't help but choose a side for us. Katheryn Bigelow's The Hurt Locker is the rare war picture that lacks political commentary & seeks to examine the effect of such violence on mankind. 

During the Iraq War, a Sergeant (Jeremy Renner) recently assigned to an army bomb squad is put at odds with his squad mates due to his maverick way of handling his work.

Like Wages of Fear (1955) much of the film is tense, due to  suspenseful atmosphere stemming from explosive personalities who are one wrong choice away from being blown to smithereens. We hold our breath and are on the edge of our seat as this episodic military drama unfolds onscreen. 

The Hurt Locker has the feel of a documentary. Indeed, it was written by a journalist of the Iraq war, who's first hand experiences helped shape the film. The film's cinematographer frames each scene using four handheld cameras; giving us an - at the time- unique point of view that captures the chaos of the story.

The Hurt Locker is worth a secondary viewing because one may be turned off by the film's repetition. The repetition is essential to the slow boil of tension. It's a fine film, but I'm more impressed by it as a technical achievement rather than entertainment.