Life and death with the buzz junkie

Rating: 8/10 (27 February 2009)

Katheryn Bigelow creates a horribly believable canvass of chaos amid a nation trying to pick itself up and live a normal life. Placing themselves in harm's way to do their day job for people who don't want them there, is a professional team of experienced Explosive Ordnance Disposal specialists.
Bigelow excels throughout this movie by creating spectacular and revealing contrasts; they're everywhere you look and its difficult to explain without spoiling - so I've listed some at the end. Go find more...
Renner is excellent as the driven man, who knows he has responsibilities at home he'd rather not face.
It's hard sitting here watching the team obey their rules of engagement against threats, when you're willing them to take action to make themselves safer. I was completely absorbed. It's a great movie - some action but lots of thought. 8/10.
=== Spoiler alert: spoiler below gives examples ===
Contrasts (see above):
* calm and measured team leader in the "old firm" vs gung-ho risk taker as the "new boy".
* the cool, clean and clinical inside the morgue vs almost anywhere else, on-base or in-country.
* intense yet careful approach of the EOD team vs the cool but professional nonchalance of the British contractors.
* tormentors and victims.
* the day job in the zone vs the day-to-day at home.
And the eyes; they're everywhere !