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twentyten: film 25
Film 25: The Hurt Locker (2009)
Director: Academy Award Winning Kathryn Bigelow, Starring: Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, Brian Geraghty
So on the afternoon of the 82nd Oscars, which I wasn’t too terribly excited about, I decided to sit down and partake in the Hurt Locker and hopefully get enthused about my evening.
And The Hurt Locker did not disappoint, while it didn’t fuel my fire as much as films in years past (the best picture battle between There Will Be Blood and No Country For Old Men comes to mind) it was solid, and very compelling.
I was drawn in by the realistic feel of the film, but appreciative of Bigelow’s choice not to play the pseudo-documentary style card. It seemed authentic, not gimmicky, and still retained a high amount of production value. And damn it if she didn’t prove that a movie of explosions can be spectacular and not a Michael Bay piece of crap.
But while it was Bigelow’s evening, winning an award all women can respect and celebrate, this was Renner’s film. His portrayal of SSgt. William James was what made the experience so compelling, that made you laugh and be pissed off simultaneously, that caused you to hold your breath…sometimes a little too long. Damn if James wasn’t a character that you absolutely loved to watch being a jerk. A fantastic performance for an actor I hope to see more of in the future.
3/7/10
