The Hurt Locker Review

Posted by Chad Webb on 08.01.2009

Defusing bombs is one way to relieve boredom.

Jeremy Renner: Staff Sergeant William James
Anthony Mackie: Sergeant JT Sanborn
Brian Geraghty: Specialist Owen Eldridge
Guy Pearce: Sergeant Matt Thompson
Ralph Fiennes: Contractor Team Leader
David Morse: Colonel Reed
Evangeline Lilly: Connie James
Christian Camargo: Colonel John Cambridge
Directed By: Kathryn Bigelow
Written By: Mark Boal
Release Date: June 26, 2009
Running Time: 131 minutes







Rated R for war violence and language.

There is one scene in The Hurt Locker where Staff Sergeant James leaves the military base and travels into the Iraqi town to follow up on the disappearance of a boy. He returns with the hood of his sweater over his head and is met with shouting and numerous machine guns pointed at him. He is certainly allowed to be at the base, but the guards push him down, demand that his hands stay in the air, and order him to display is ID. He replies that he was at a whorehouse, and the guard says, "If I let you in, will you tell me where it is?"

I must be honest in admitting I entered the theater with trepidation as I new this storyline took place in the Middle East prior to buying a ticket. Deep down, the memories of so many failed films dealing with the Middle East, and/or military officers that were affected by their time there, came surging back. I cited the above scene because it would have been handled differently and poorly with other filmmakers. After enduring horrible efforts like Redacted and Stop-Loss, both of which portray the military as bumbling whiny rednecks, I was thankful that The Hurt Locker portrayed them as normal human beings, honest men who are there to do a job, not be a villain.

It is a testament to the ability of Director Kathryn Bigelow that she manages to get the audience emotionally invested during the opening moments. It shows Sergeant Thompson (Guy Pearce), who must diffuse a bomb located under a pile of rubble. It does not end well for him, therefore a new bomb tech is called in for Sergeant Sanborn (Anthony Mackie) and Specialist Eldridge (Brian Geraghty). His name is William James (Jeremy Renner), and he is nothing like Thompson. He takes chances on every mission, but he is efficient nonetheless. The Hurt Locker follows the team as they encounter new threats in Iraq. Their time there in the country is coming to a close, and the goal is to leave alive.

The cast of this film features well known names and Oscar nominated talent such as Ralph Fiennes, Guy Pearce, and David Morse. However, their roles are limited to a few minutes each. The Hurt Locker relies on the abilities of three young actors, and not one is intimidated by the story or the caliber of cast involved. The problems and concerns they discuss are ones that many of us would express if placed in the same position.

Staff Sergeant James is played by Jeremy Renner, a young man who up until this point has assumed minor roles in films like North Country, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, and 28 Weeks Later. His performance is not one of exaggerated emotion or moving monologues, but of becoming his character inside and out, and projecting that intensity to the viewer through mannerisms such as speech and stride. The reasons he diffuses bombs on a daily basis are not the reasons most of us resting at home would prefer to hear, but they are truthful, and cause us to connect with him on a more profound level. He tends to be reckless, but James is the exact type of person that is best as a leader. Another great scene has Eldridge spotting an insurgent hiding from afar. James and the rest of the team are busy looking the other way. James knows that Eldridge must take care of this himself, or he will never conquer his fears.

If you recognize Anthony Mackie as Sergeant JT Sanborn, you would not be alone. He has a memorable face with a piercing stare and a lingering demeanor. His last role from this year was that of Tupac Shakur in Notorious. He is commonly typecast, but finally Mackie receives a part he can sink his teeth into. This is his finest performance to date, and will undoubtedly catapult him to superior offers. As Sanborn, he reacts harshly to the “careless” style of James. His relationship with James is a classic confrontation of someone who is by the book versus someone who bends the rules to his comfort.

Brian Geraghty is Specialist Owen Eldridge, an apprehensive yet intelligent soldier who meets with a therapist regularly during his tour of duty. He is reliable, but does not handle the missions as well as his two teammates. The journey of his character is perhaps the most intriguing of The Hurt Locker. The exchange between Eldridge and James concerning his fears is very sincere and adeptly executed. I appreciated how the larger parts were reserved for the more unknown actors, while the smallest ones went to the popular names. It was a risk that is not taken enough in Hollywood, but it paid off wonderfully.

The public watches the news, reads the newspaper, and cruises the internet skimming past stories about Iraq and the Middle East, bombs that explode, and soldiers that have perished. We all make judgments, and move on with our lives, but Director Kathryn Bigelow shows the audience precisely how it feels to be an American soldier in the center of a dangerous country. Though this plot deals mainly with bombs, some of best and thickest suspense occurs as Sanborn and Eldridge glance around at the townspeople looking on. Which are enemies? Which are friendly? It is difficult to tell, so what would you do? The person who triggers the explosive could be a child, or a woman, or an old man. The decisions these men face are unbelievable, and it is in the treatment of these sequences that The Hurt Locker obtains its strength.

A thought not easy to swallow is that a potential award winning picture emanates from the same filmmaker who gave us Point Break. Kathryn Bigelow accomplishes a feat so many before her have failed at. She understands exactly how to capture the emotion, the action, and the comedy of a film involving the Middle East. She balances the bomb diffusions from the gunfire and the drama expertly. But aside from the irreplaceable tension, Bigelow exhibits moments that would have gotten lost in the editing room. Watching James interact with a local boy selling bootleg DVDs expanded upon his character in ways the invigorating action could not.

The Hurt Locker was written by Mark Boal, and coincidentally, he is the same screenwriter responsible for the only other film dealing with soldiers the Middle East that I loved, In the Valley of Elah. The bottom line is that Boal can comprehend how human beings should be presented, despite their occupation or place in life. He also affords first hand experience as he was implanted with a bomb squad himself. Granted, a couple of the scenes strike me as overly thoughtless even for a gusty person like James, but that does not make them any less spellbinding. And let me be clear for those who have seen the film. It is told in a linear fashion. That is important when considering the ending.

I do not know who chose to include the Chris Hedges quote at the beginning, but by the time the closing credits roll, those words will have shaken you the core. The quote is this: "The rush of battle is a potent and often lethal addiction, for war is a drug." It slowly fades, but “war is a drug” remains just in case you missed it. Many critics’ reviews have mentioned this quote, and it is important to understand why. Countless films have opened or ended with poetic quotations, but most are used simply as flair. The Hurt Locker is a rare film that is enhanced by its opening quote, and its title for that matter.

The 411: The Hurt Locker is an outstanding film, one that is surely a contender for Best picture, even without the extra 5 nominations. Director Kathryn Bigelow, the same woman who gave us K-19: The Widowmaker, Point Break, and Near Dark has unleashed one of the best Middle Eastern war pictures to date. Her film has excellent performances, well earned suspense, and exhilarating action. With all the positive buzz, this is a film that will not be leaving theaters for some time. Do yourself a favor. Do not wait for DVD. See it now.

Final Score:  9.0   [  Amazing ]