If he wasn't an insurgent before, he sure as hell is now.

Rating: 8/10 (13 March 2010)

Amongst all the chaos of war, the Hurt Locker manages to keep a steady rhythm and clear narrative thanks to Bigelow and Renner. As any good war film should do, it keeps you on the edge of your seat, leaving you wondering if each actor will make it to the next tense scene alive. One almost experiences each bomb disposal and combat mission as we follow Staff Sergeant William James (Jeremy Renner) and Sergeant JT Sanborn (Anthony Mackie) through the film's extensive camera work, giving every scene multiple angles. War pushes soldiers to the breaking point and this vulnerability is shown very realistically by a trio of actors in peak form. Oscar nominee Renner garners a lot of attention, but Mackie as Sanborn also masters his role as the no frills, by the book foil to team leader James's recklessness. They navigate risky terrain, disarming any found bombs while often suspicious locals watch on, any of whom could possess the detonator. Put yourself in their position and you'd not be able to wait for it all to be over. However, we get a firsthand account of someone (Renner) unable to keep away. Disarming bombs is his calling in life and he feels at home when in the line of duty. As the movie begins, we read "war is a drug" and by the end of the film you might even understand why.