Acclaimed because of its timeliness?

Rating: 8/10 (16 February 2010)

I'm a little undecided about The Hurt Locker. On the one hand, it's undoubtedly a good movie. I might not be into war movies but I can at least recognize them when I see them. Director Kathryn Bigelow keeps the action and suspense scenes tight, replete with the lack of a soundtrack during the particularly tense scenes. The story, which focuses on the soldiers of a bomb disposal unit in Iraq, feels plausible and the characters are interesting, though I have to say the focus of movie is definitely its direction.
On the other hand, I have to wonder if this movie is as acclaimed as it is because of its timeliness on two accounts. The first is obviously that it's a good movie about the war in Iraq and that war is still going on, with more US troops dying all the time. Thus the movie does have to resonate with at least the American viewers. The other is that it is past due for a female director to win the Oscar and well, Bigelow is as good a candidate as it gets, what with this well-done movie that not only has the perfect subject but is also a war and action movie - male- dominated genres that she has broken into.
So I don't know if this deserves Best Picture but it sure has got great momentum for it.