One of the best films of the year

Rating: Null/10 (12 December 2009)

Just a few days ago, I watched The Hurt Locker, and to be honest I did not like it very much. Could it be because I was hardly paying real attention to it? It definitely was my fault. Ever since that day I have been thinking about it, and decided to rewatch it because it felt like I missed something. Boy, I missed a lot of things. This is a great film. The attention to detail and tension in the film is so real, so layered. The film offers the first real startling look at the Iraq War, and how dangerous it is. As much as it is a war film, it is also a character study. Jeremy Renner is perfect as SSgt. William James. He creates a fascinating and brave character that is sure to become one of the iconic heroes of this decade. Renner hits every note perfectly, as does his cast members Anthony Mackie and Brian Geraghty. The film has a good amount of humor, thanks a great deal to James. But the film also gives a painful look at lives of real men at Iraq and how hard it must be to cope with the tasks needed to accomplish, like disarming bombs. Kathryn Bigelow deserves an Oscar nomination for her directing, and honestly, at this point I would want her to win. She, and the screenplay writer Mark Boal, have created a devastating, powerful, but ultimately rewarding war/drama that deserves all the praise. One of the five best films of the year