Real Life Boomtown

Rating: 8/10 (6 September 2009)

Greetings again from the darkness. Add another to the list of jobs I hope to never have ... Bomb Tech. Sure Keanu Reeves made it look like fun while drooling over Sandra Bullock, but here director Kathryn Bigelow shows us a closer look at what really goes on with these guys - deep inside the war.
Jeremy Renner is stunning as the "show no fear" bomb tech who understands his job, thrives on his job, and ultimately needs his job. Renner's talent was obvious when he played the sleazy rapist in North Country, but here you just can't take your eyes off of him.
Bigelow (yes, the same who directed Keanu and Swayze in Point Break) delivers excruciatingly intense drama. There were times I wanted to look away, but I couldn't blink. I was frozen and glued to the action.
Not many movies kill off the likes of Guy Pearce and Ralph Fiennes, but duty is the star of the film. And while that is the strength, it is also the film's weakness. Character development and story lines are pretty much non-existent other than the obvious thrill seeker, dedicated soldier, dumb white trash, etc. Those are more stereotypes than characters, but it doesn't prevent this from being a very intense film to watch.