The Hurt Locker

I have a problem with this film. It derives all of its atmosphere and suspense from the banal fact that a bomb might (or might not) go off at any time. Its characters are uninteresting, the dialogue is horrible and the dramaturgical framework almost non-existent (it’s just a series of situations that the characters facing death have to survive). On the other hand, these very flaws make it all the more realistic and valuable as a testimony from the given places. Maybe all this movie needed was to decide whether it wanted to be an exciting thriller or an interesting docudrama. (20/12/2009)

Finally, a proper movie about a bomb squad. Excellently filmed. The opening scene with the robot is flawless. Kathryn Bigelow creates an incredibly exciting atmosphere, and every “disposal" has an ace up its sleeve. I liked Renner in S.W.A.T., and it's a good thing he's sticking to these badass roles. Ralph Fiennes and a small cameo by Evangeline Lilly is also delightful. If there were fewer scenes, I wouldn't hesitate to give it five stars. (21/04/2009)

Full Metal Jacket for the new millennium – militant, cynical and predatory. A ballbusting documentary drama about a war-addicted people, about overgrown boys for whom normal life is far too normal. Bigelow loaded a cart full of naturalism, the hot Iraqi atmosphere and brilliant acting. This type of dynamically filmed war drama has been lacking since the days when Scott filmed Black Hawk Down. Like him, Bigelow leaves aside the moral assessment of the conflict and instead goes deep into the characters' psyche and adds a solid portion of irony (something that was missing in Black Hawk Down). There is great portion of raw fight scenes and sweaty dialogues of the average soldier for two solid hours. The Hurt Locker is not trying to get to the heart of the Iraq war, but rather simply capture the strange soul of a warrior. And in this respect, Kathryn Bigelow did a better and more responsive job than her male colleagues. In addition to balls, the film also has empathy... For me, The Hurt Locker is one of the American film highlights of 2009. Perhaps even the best. (07/02/2010)

Quite intimate and unfortunately often also quite uninspiring. It has some truly revolutionary elements and some already seen a hundred times over. In the end, it’s average. A big plus is the fact that Bigelow doesn't lean towards any side. she works as an observer and doesn't add or subtract anywhere, and that’s not very easy – none of the great war movies I can think are 50-50. The sound design is excellent, and will surely be appreciated by connoisseurs and home cinema owners. The sniper exhibition and explosions are especially outstanding. The psychology is average, I expected more. Considering that the competitor was a pleasant, although relatively conceptually stale Avatar, I quite understand the Oscars. (04/04/2010)

I can't say that this award-winning Oscar drama knocked me off my feet, and it won't make it into my top war movies either, as it lacks a cohesive plotline, and the characters, except for the main protagonist, are merely sketched out. It's a depiction of several fragmented scenes from the operations of a unit focused on neutralizing explosives. The authenticity in capturing the overall atmosphere in Baghdad and war-torn Iraq can definitely be appreciated. In comparison to Kathryn Bigelow's film, Hollywood's so-called war movies, like for example Three Kings, seem rather awkward. However, the authenticity of individual scenes and the protagonist's experiences are not all that magnificent. In reality, playing it safe and adhering to caution is much more common, and a soloist indulging in adrenaline would not be understood by their unit colleagues, and especially not by their superiors. I estimate that they would've earned themselves an end to their mission at least three times due to their escapades. American units are specialized and usually call in the appropriate special forces to handle extraordinary situations, so pyrotechnics specialists interfering with the work of snipers or clearing adjacent sectors of terrorists is pure fiction. Another aspect to appreciate in this drama is the absence of the usual patriotic pathos, clichés, and above all, political correctness. Kathryn Bigelow also avoids unnecessary naturalistic repulsiveness, as war in her interpretation is stress, fatigue, constant tension, dirt, and waiting for the end of the mission. Overall impression: 80%. (01/04/2010)