" There are people out in the dark, who are laughing at us "

Rating: 7/10 (24 February 2010)

American invaded the country of Iraq for several fictitious reasons. To-date, none have ever been substantiated. As a result, some 30,000 civilians have been killed by American military forces. Moreover, 5000 American casualties have been attributed to this unnecessary conflict, not counting other collateral injuries. When these veterans return home, there is no well deserved homecoming for them. This is due to the fact America has yet again sustained another lost war. This movie is called " The Hurt Locker " and is the gutsy story of a courageous group of men in a Bomb Disposal Unit. Jeremy Renner plays SSG William James, a thrill seeking, danger oriented, fear-less soldier who lives for the excitement of the job. Anthony Mackie is Sgt. JT Sanborn a realistic soldier who accepts his dangerous role, adhere's to policy, hoping to eventually have a son when he returns home. Brian Geraghty is Spc. Owen Eldridge, who is quite aware of his daily mortality and fear of being shipped home in a box. Together, they face the experienced, illusive and lethal enemy with exceptional courage, each cognizant, that time is not really on their side. With the additional talents of Hollywood greats like Guy Pearce, Ralph Fiennes and David Morse, this film should have become a run-away winner. Instead, there were segments in the film which appeared sluggish, out of sequence or amateurishly directed. Too often, the serious story became child-like as if it were an arcade game. Dramatic tension in the guy-oriented movie, became talk-heavy. The few exciting scenes appeared strained, over-worked and clumsy. In all what should have been a memorable and articulate message of why men fight, became a docu-drama and a poor journalistic endeavor destined for the library of obscurity. ***