Bang! (The Hurt Locker (DVD))

Member Name: paulhanton

Product:	The Hurt Locker (DVD)
Date:	01/09/09 (141 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Tension, tension and tension.

Disadvantages: Bit predicatable in some ways.

Hurt Locker (2009, UK, 2008, USA)
Cert. 15.

Well now, I wanted to see Final destination 3D, Mrs H wanted to see Hurt Locker, we went to watch Hurt Locker.

We saw this film in Sheffield Showcase, worthy of note as the screen is not as big as many cinemas, hence, some of the CGI and Special effects were not as 'big'. This cinema does feel a bit cosier, not that this is a cosy film.

Kathryn Bigelow is the director and not someone whose work I am that familiar with. A woman directing an intense, male based war film is interesting in itself.

Mark Boal (the writer) and others involved with the production actually went to Iraq with a 'live' unit to see how things were done, though how much of this is true and how much is hype I just don't know. Either way, we do get the sense watching this, that there is some first hand knowledge, or at least, very good researchers.


~~~The Plot and characters~~~

We follow the fortunes of one small, three man bomb disposal squad who have limited time left in Iraq, the year being 2004. When their sergeant (played by Guy Pearce) dies he is replaced by a new Staff Sergeant, William James (Jeremy Renner). James is a maverick, risk taking career soldier, that whilst excellent at his job and incredibly knowledgeable, is a liability; he does not communicate well, puts his comrades in risky situations and almost seems to have a death wish.

Then we have another career soldier, Sgt JT Sanborn (Anthony Mackie) who, unlike Renner is careful, thorough and professional to the extreme, and cares deeply about his men.

Finally we get specialist Owen Eldridge (Brian Geharty) who is young, nervous and scared, convinced he will die in Iraq.

The characters then are a bit formulaic, and there are bit parts too which are the same, a Gun Ho General, a caring army doctor and so on, but really it is the three main characters that the film is about.

The plots follows a 'countdown' formula with each scene or 'episode' being preceded by 'Bravo Company, 35 days till end of rotation' or 30 days etc. Each scene is a distinct new situation or challenge which are all involving or related to explosives or ordinance, most of which of course, is unexploded.

This is where the film starts to shine, the plot may be formulaic, and that is a criticism, but the scenes are not.

There is real, real tension, honestly some of the tensest moments I have seen on film. At one point there is a clear (I thought) part where someone is about to die, and in a hushed cinema I actually said out loud "He's dead" much to the amusement of Mrs H and the rest of the cinema, and to my embarrassment....it was like a tourettes moment....I have never, ever done that before.

I will tell you no more of the plot, whether Bravo Company make it to the end of their tour intact is the essence of the plot, but there are many situations that enhance the main plot.


~~~What I liked~~~

I loved the tension, it is very, very well paced and really did have me on the edge of my seat. The length of the film, two hours and eleven minutes means that the tense scenes have 'time' to be tense and there were bits where I actually realised that I was holding my breath.

The CGI and non CGI effects were stunning. There is one slow motion close up of a spent cartridge bouncing off the floor that is superb in its simplicity, yet breathtaking in its philosophical complexity. I wished that I had seen it on an even bigger screen for some of the effects

I got to feel quite strong emotions toward the characters and that, for me, is rare in a film, this in turn made me think, long after leaving the cinema, good stuff.

The other thing I really liked was the attention to detail (most of the time) in terms of; the bombs, the sniper scene (wait and see), the emotions, noises and confusion.


~~~Not so good~~~

The plot and characters were as I have said, very much formula for a Hollywood war movie and that, if I am honest is the only thing I did not like about the film.

That 'formula' leads the viewer into a bit of an insight into the American psyche of war and patriotism, which sadly does not seem to have changed since the 40's. At least there were no triumphant flag waving scenes.

One other thing that wasn't a 'not like' more of a 'mmmmm, not sure about that' was the fact that we sometimes see this unit operating alone, without back up, not sure that would be the case.


~~~Finally~~~

As a 'classic' war film, this will never be seen as good as 'Platoon', 'Black Hawk Down' or any of the other 'greats. However there is something about it that makes it better than average and that is the tension.
A film worth seeing in my opinion, much better in the cinema than it would be at home, only remember....don't get so engrossed that you shout something out like I did.

Summary: Hurt Locker.