Mar 15

Mar 15 The Hurt Locker (2009)

The critically acclaimed The Hurt Locker felt manipulative and didn’t quite ring true (which isn’t to say it isn’t realistic, which it might actually be). Even so, the acting, directing and cinematography are all solid. Violent and intense, the film tells the story of a U.S. wartime bomb squad in Iraq. It contains some interesting plot points, but the motivations seem lacking, and the tale drags at times; good but not great.

¾ (out of ***)

2009 • 2 HOURS, 11 MINUTES
SUMMIT ENTERTAINMENT • VOLTAGE PICTURES • GROSVENOR PARK MEDIA, LP • F.C.S.A. • FIRST LIGHT PRODUCTION • KINGSGATE FILMS

STARRING
• JEREMY RENNER, ANTHONY MACKIE

ALSO STARRING
• BRIAN GERAGHTY, EVANGELINE LILLY, RALPH FIENNES, DAVID MORSE, GUY PEARCE

WRITTEN BY
• MARK BOAL

DIRECTED BY
• KATHRYN BIGELOW

2009 ACADEMY AWARDS (6)
• BEST PICTURE
• BEST DIRECTOR: KATHRYN BIGELOW
• BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
• BEST FILM EDITING
• BEST SOUND EDITING
• BEST SOUND MIXING

ADDITIONAL 2009 ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATIONS (3)
• BEST ACTOR: JEREMY RENNER (LOST TO JEFF BRIDGES FOR CRAZY HEART)
• BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY (LOST TO AVATAR)
• BEST ORIGINAL SCORE (LOST TO UP)