Review: ‘The Hurt Locker’ – Scott’s Take

Chances are you have seen at least one thing that Kathryn Bigelow has done in the past, and it is probably ‘Point Break’ or ‘Strange Days’. What she has done in ‘The Hurt Locker’ is bring us one of the most real, intense films about war ever created and although that is a broad and wide open statement I can confidently stand behind it.

The film follows a Explosive Ordnance Disposal team in Iraq whose sole purpose is disabling bombs that would otherwise destroy innocent soldiers and civilians. The movie opens with Sergeant Matt Thompson(Guy Pearce) as the guy in the bomb suit putting his life on the line to disable a bomb that is threatening the lives of innocent Iraqi civilians. When he goes to attempt the disarm they quickly realize its a setup and someone remote detonates the bomb which as you can guess kills him in the suit.

Insert his replacement Staff Sergeant William James(Jeremy Renner) who jumps in the suit and immediately goes into combat. At first he comes off as a hot shot who fears nothing and is willing to put anyone and everyone in danger to get the job done but after seeing the dedication to his craft his team really comes together and puts their trust in him. He soon starts showing flashes of a true leader and that more than anything gets them through some really dangerous situations. Eventually they all realize that this is the job he is meant to do, and even when he isn’t doing this job thats all he can think about.

Jeremy Renner could easily pull off an Oscar nom for his role as Staff Sergeant William James because he is absolutely incredible in this movie. Renner has really come into his own with recent roles and this in particular really shows what he is capable of. I also want to say what an great job both Anthony Mackie and Brian Geraghty as the other 2 members in their EOD squad. The acting turned in by everyone in the film is an added bonus to the incredible and emotional story it follows.

Kathyn Bigelow went above and beyond to keep the film as authentic as possible and shot the movie in Jordan which is as close to the Iraqi border without actually crossing over the line and hanging out in the pits of where the war is still currently going on. Bigelow also went as far as to cast real Iraqi refuges who had been forced from their homes during the war in the film in the roles of Iraqi citizens.

Bigelow isn’t the only person involved that cared about the realism of the film, Jeremy Renner went and trained with real EOD teams prior to shooting the film. In interviews he also mentions that they were shot at during filming, two by fours that had nails in them were being thrown off 2 story buildings and that authenticity really comes through the film.

The one thing that you cant say about this movie is that it isnt real, or that it doesn’t feel like you are in the middle of the action. Bigelow went to great lengths to ensure that when you are watching certain scenes you feel knots in your stomach. Don’t expect to see anything this genuine without it being actual footage of EOD teams disabling bombs.