Bar Stool Review of THE HURT LOCKER

Ramblings: Explosive

Final Proof: 3 Shots



The Hurt Locker is intense from the instant the curtain rises. The first scene primes you with energy that's explosive for the duration. Magnificently directed by Kathryn Bigelow, the movie never really sinks into those "War Is Hell" clichés, at least not very often, and also stays away from the politics of the Iraq conflict. The acting is as realistic as the action, so i guess the only thing that really left a bad taste in my mouth was a lack of direction.

You know how you go to the bar and drink until something happens 'cause if you drink long enough something surely will? Not here. The flick begins full throttle so has nowhere to go from there and i eventually got bored of the bomb disarming scenes. If that's the story's point, that war is repetitive, the characters should have been more blasé than they were at the the end.

When all is said and done, despite this solitary dud, Kathryn Bigelow's obvious talent as a director makes The Hurt Locker a blast.

Buzz Kills (Watch out for spoilers)

Sex: 0 shots

The only woman in this whole thing is Evangeline Lilly (and if you're only gonna have one, she's a good one to have) but she's only on screen for all of ninety seconds. Still, it's a good enough excuse to look up pictures of her on the Net. [Note: the amount of space dedicated to her in this post is not representative of her screen time in the film.]












Drink: 1/2 shot



Only one scene. There's rowdy male bonding over whiskey shots from the bottle in the barracks. You'd think a bomb squad would need more liquid down time. Jeebus, in M*A*S*H* they had a still in their tent and that was a tv show.



Rock & Roll: 4 Shots



Apart from some Ministry which we hear in the new guy's room upon his arrival and more metal during the end credits, the real rock & roll in this film is the film itself. There's enough of it in the film's attitude to blow up your mental speakers. There's a suicidal rebel leader, explosions, fighting, guns, shooting, killing, and balls to the wall intensity that rocks hard.

Boring Technical Crap

Written by: Mark Boal

Directed by: Kathryn Bigelow

Starring


Jeremy Renner - SSgt William James

Anthony Mackie - Sgt J.T. Sandborn

Brian Geraghty - Spc Owen Eldridge

Also appearing like mirages in this movie are Guy Pearce and Ralph Fiennes.

Bottom Line

See it.