Exactly what it should have been

Rating: 10/10 (20 April 2010)

The Hurt Locker is a movie that begins the same way it ends, but my saying that isn't going to give anything away. It's true that it's not a typical, Hollywood-camera-caramel flick; it doesn't adhere to any formula but the one that was discovered for its sake when it was filmed. It is certainly an independent film in this regard, and, if watched intently, is a powerful experience.
The filming style reminded me of the way another true-to-life, brutally honest portrayal was done, Drugstore Cowboy. Both movies involve a handful of characters that we watch and learn from; we learn what it means to have their lives, their joys (hardly any), their fears (horrible realities). Because there is no polish here, we don't expect any, and that in itself is a breath of fresh air in today's movie-making grind. The trick here is to accept that what you're watching is the way it really is. The trick to doing that is to accept this film in the trust-mode. In the documentary voice.
If you can do that, and if you don't have any typical, modern film making clichés close to heart as you watch, I'd be incredulous if you were able to tell me this wasn't one of the most powerful war dramas you've ever seen. What's more, this one was done without big names. But this movie doesn't need big names. It just suffices. And it's DAMN good. It hurts. It has an appropriate title.