Sometimes the greatest risks posed to the soldiers abroad are those that are not easily decipherable to the human eye. What if an imminent threat exists within your own command unit? Hurt Locker is a compelling and frenetic-paced military drama about a maverick commander who risks both his life and his team members while trying to deactivate bombs and other explosives in war-torn Baghdad in 2004. This is an emotional and insightful character-study film that traces the lives of three soldiers struggling to work together for the last 40 days on tour in Iraq. Jeremy Renner is superb as reckless-by-nature Staff Sergeant William James, who places personal objectives above his teammates. Sgt. William’s methods come under sharp scrutiny from bomb squad colleagues Sgt. JT Sanborn (Anthony Mackie) and Specialist Owen Eldridge (Brian Geraghty). William’s presence on the squad is off to an inauspicious start because he refuses to use radio-controlled equipment to relay information as he deactivates various plastic explosives.
This film is a cinematic achievement for Kathryn Bigelow who also drew global acclaim for her action drama Point Break. Bigelow’s impressive use of the shaky cam and close-up shots serve as a great tool in luring the viewer to become further engaged in the chaotic and dangerous backdrop of this region of the Middle East. There are a few distracting elements here. The film’s use of sound mixing includes too many dramatic instrumentals that drown out the dialogue and sometimes thwarts film’s authenticity. The film would have been better served using more natural sound to assist in plot development.
This film is not for the faint of heart as it includes graphic language and gory violence, including a bomb buried in a dead corpse. But Hurt Locker is a thoughtful and realistic story about the violence inside the trenches and its emotional impact on the men and women that serve in the armed forces.
Grade: B+
