guerrilla-style no plot war film lost my interest.

Rating: 5/10 (30 May 2010)

3 Men in the the Bravo Company's bomb disposal unit currently stationed in Baghdad. James is the tech team leader. When James arrives on the scene, Bravo Company has 39 days left on its current deployment. 39 days is a long time to be together (Sanborn &Eldridge) these men whose styles do not mesh with their new leader. James is a renegade for who the thrill of the dismantlement seems to be the ultimate goal regardless of the safety of his fellow team members (himself or others). On the other hand, Sanborn is by the books: he knows his place & duty & trusts others in the army to carry out their jobs as he does his. Eldridge is an insecure soldier who is constantly worried that an error or misjudgment on his part will lead to the death of an innocent civilian or a military colleague. While the 3 members face their own internal issues, they have to be aware of any person at the bomb sites, some of who may be bombers themselves. As the men struggle to control their wild new leader, the city explodes into chaos, & James true character reveals itself in a way that will change each man forever. All aspects of film-making are top-notch, non typical screenplay vivid cinematography, masterful directing & well paced editing. Bigelow breaks with traditional Hollywood narrative techniques in this film. There is no clear antagonist, no rising action, no obvious character development & no climax. Bigelow making a powerful statement about the insane addiction that is war. This is a non compromising film. Bigelow has succeeded in creating an entirely memorable experience that will leave its mark as one of the very best war spectacles put to film. Katherine Bigelow is James Cameron's (Titanic Avatar) ex wife. Married 1989 to 1991. I did not particularly care for the movie. I hate war movies. I disagreed with the US invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan and most films which use mostly hand held cameras lose my interest. Done guerrilla-style" with hand-held cameras