A fine war movie

Rating: 6/10 (11 September 2009)

I'd heard some good reviews about Hurt Locker, so decided to go and see whether they were accurate. I've got to say that whilst the film isn't flawed, it's certainly well worth seeing. The best aspect of the film is that it makes you consider the current conflicts that Nato are involved in. I will be in the majority when I say that this is largely played out via news headlines reporting the deaths of a handful of national troops. You don't really hear anything about 'opposition' deaths although you always have the impression that they are far greater in number.
The film doesn't dwell on the political aspects of the Iraqi war, but focuses instead on the various responses of the Nato troops. The film follows a group of soldiers who are responsible for defusing bombs. Probably the most striking aspect is how little integration there is between the troops and the local population. I would like to think that this was not the case in reality although I fear the film may have accurately portrayed this. I particularly liked the quote "if he wasn't an insurgent, he is now" following some rather harsh treatment of a local.
I've heard a lot of plaudits for Kathryn Bigelow, the director, and these are well deserved. The film grips you from start to finish. Jeremy Renner is very good as the fearless Sgt James. The supporting cast are also excellent, so this is one of the better war films.