The Hurt Locker (2009)

Review:

What makes "The Hurt Locker" stand out among war pictures is how it can at once achieve something so visceral while not making any real statement for or against war. The film observes war like it observes its characters, without bias or awe. The main idea behind "Hurt Locker" seems to be that war exists and there are people who thrive under its chaotic dominion. "Patton" (1970) had a similar message. War is madness and so must be met and fought and dominated by people who are themselves, to a certain degree, mad

Jeremy Renner plays SSG William James. He is a bomb technician in Iraq in 2004. Every single day is a flirtation with death for James. He must defuse bombs that are found in rubble, cars, and other unspeakable places. One of the strong points of "The Hurt Locker" is that we never find out who is planting these bombs or why, they simply exist as a reality of life in Iraq. The people who have planted the bombs may be watching as James tries to defuse their bombs...but then again, those people watching may just be casual citizens interested in a military operation. Some of the most intriguing parts in "The Hurt Locker" involve those onlookers who may or may not be insurgents. There's a man with a video camera, a renegade taxi driver, some friendly pedestrians, and suicide bombers. Why were thy doing these things? Were they friendly or not? Director Katherine Bigelow and writer Mark Boal are smart to never offer answers.

With this strategy they create a concept of war that is probably more true to life - instead of a well plotted mission, war is depicted as a series of chaotic encounters, each one likely having no connection to anything preceding it. So instead of villains, in this film we have bombs - the almighty symbol of mass destruction, And by extension, war itself becomes the antagonist of the film - not an enemy, not an army, but simply war and its technologies. In the hero's seat we have William James, who is the only one crazy enough to challenge war in all its horrific facades.

But Jame's determination to unarm any bomb at all costs takes its toll on those around him. Men get injured, egos get battered, and nerves are blown. Sgt. JT Sanborn (Anthony Mackie) fully realizes the jeopardy James puts other soldiers in. Sanborn is in charge of the bomb squadron's safety and James constantly defies his orders, taking what Sanborn considers to be unnecessary risks. But while Sanborn disapproves of James he also resents James' talent, perhaps even secretly wishing he had the same foolhardy nerve.

In my opinion, one of the best sequences in the film involves James going AWOL. I won't elaborate on the circumstances or what he discovers, but suffice it to say, he happens upon an Iraqi household where he briefly meets a rational professor who has been thrust into an irrational situation. Although its quick, something about this scene stuck with me. James finds himself invading a place that need not be invaded and encounters a man who can be construed as nothing but innocent. This man does not make bombs. This scene works as a good metaphor and serves as one of the few moments that could be construed as making an anti-war statement.

"The Hurt Locker" is tough as nails and employs some elegant suspense. It never becomes preachy because it knows its rightful boundaries. This is a character study of war, one man, and their symbiosis. I would go so far as to say its the best movie yet made about the Iraq war.

Rating:

On a scale of one to "Casablanca" this film is a "Richard III" (1995).

Rationalization:

What drives great man has long been the fascination behind good stories. What drives great men to extremes is often the material of great stories. In many ways, James is as much of an extremist as those who plant the bombs he must defuse. He is dangerous and somewhat reckless. But he's also the best at what he does and he loves it. War is a game that can only be bested by those who can handle the extremes and thrive. Just as the cruel pranks in Altman's "MASH" (1970) were a desultory coping mechanism for the doctors, James' need to defuse any and all bombs at any cost is his way of maintaining control in an otherwise chaotic war.