The Hurt Locker Cinema Review

If you believe the hype The Hurt Locker is destined to be considered one of the best war films ever.

The movie revolves around the exploits of a US disposal team in Iraq. Its pretty exciting stuff as our intrepid characters do their thing. Is it going to go off? The suspense. Yes, it’s a bomb and it’s on a timer - can he cuts the wire in time to disable it? Oh dear it went off, cool explosion scenes though. It’s a great dramatic device to have countdown scenarios where characters sweat and the audience wills them to do it before everyone blows, “come on, come on”. Well, The Hurt Locker uses this cinematic gem to good effect.

But the movie does try to shoot for a bigger picture of war and in particular some of the challenges that soldiers face in an occupied country.

The hung ho-ness of the main character, Staff Sergeant William James, played by Jeremy Rainer, does at times feel a little over the top. A kind of Rambo on Ketamine. But the film is based on first hand observations by journalist and screenwriter Mark Boal who was stationed on assignment with a special bomb unit. The movie also allows for conclusions to be drawn about why James is how he is. Living the life of a bomb disposal expert and that of a civilian. The adrenalin and rush of literally staring potential death in the face hundreds of times to the mundane aspects of day to day life.

Overall, although an enjoyable movie it’s hard not to have an underlying sense that the The Hurt Locker does glorify war on some level. The danger, excitement, thrill, sense of belonging, high fiving and buddy stuff that they do in the army. Ultimately, it could act as a pretty good recruitment piece for disaffected, lonely or bored kids from small towns looking for a bit of adventure.