One of the best ever

Rating: 10/10 (27 June 2009)

This is quite simply the best movie in almost ten years, and the best war movie I've ever seen. It's a psychological drama, a suspense thriller, and an action flick all rolled into one unbelievably entertaining package. It's about the Iraq war, but phenomenally there is no political statement being made. It's simply an almost documentary look at war and the mechanics of being in a war. Kathryn Bigelow has long been a fine director, but nothing on her resume prepared me for the absolute mastery she shows here. And unknown actor Jeremy Renner is perfect in the great leading role. He brings remarkable complexity to his part-cowboy part-genius bomb-defuser. He's wonderfully supported by Anthony Mackie. But Bigelow is the real revelation. She's made a movie that is one for the ages.