A tense and atmospheric exploration of the psychology of warfare

Rating: 8/10 (6 September 2014)

"The Hurt Locker" follows the activities of a bomb disposal unit in Iraq circa 2004. The film particularly focuses on Staff Sergeant William James, a reckless bomb disposal expert who lives for the high tension situations he's thrust into.
James is convincingly portrayed by Jeremy Renner in a performance that landed him his first Oscar nomination and made him a star. Anthony Mackie also contributed a solid performance and there are a couple of high-profile cameos that will grab your attention.
The script by Mark Boal received an Oscar and is a cut above the usual war movie fare. It is exceedingly suspenseful and does a fine job of capturing the environment and its denizens. I especially thought that it evoked a strong sense of paranoia and confusion, mirroring what the soldiers must feel in real combat.
Kathryn Bigelow's direction was another element of the film that resulted in an Oscar win. The film's documentary feel (courtesy of cinematographer Barry Ackroyd) meshed well with Bigelow's mastery of building and sustaining tension. The score by Marco Beltrami & Buck Sanders was also an important ingredient in the mix.
Taken altogether, the film makes for an absorbing & visceral experience, though it's ambiguities may be an obstacle for some. Sergeant James is a very intriguing character but much of the insight into his motivations is subject to conjecture. In the end, I feel that "The Hurt Locker" was a worthy Best Picture Oscar winner, although I myself would have chosen Quentin Tarantino's "Inglourious Basterds" instead.