Award Winner

When you have a 7 month old baby you don't get out much. Therefore, after seeing how well it did at the Academy Awards, my wife and I put The Hurt Locker on the que. It arrived on a Thursday. We watched it on Saturday. And I am just getting around to reviewing it. Again, for those of you with kids you understand.
http://www.thehurtlocker-movie.com/

I'm not sure if it is because we have been in this war for seven years, but I wasn't that impressed with The Hurt Locker. Don't get me wrong. Jeremy Renner turned in a great performance. It is a far cry from SWAT, but it is definitely a step in the right direction for his career. In addition, this was a great opportunity for Anthony Mackie (Half Nelson) and Brian Geraghty (We Are Marshall). These two have been in numerous roles where their character is either secondary or the film didn't do so great in the box office. Kathryn Bigelow (Academy Award for Best Director, The Hurt Locker, 2010) did a fantastic job with these characters.

The tension is there as there should be with any kind of bomb defusion. One can simulate that same tension between soldiers and the people of Iraq. At times the tension truly exists within their own minds.

Overall, it was a movie worth watching. I would consider watching it again so that I could capture the theme for what it is supposed to be. Unfortunately, I went into this movie thinking about all other war movies I have seen including Jarhead, Black Hawk Down, and Full Metal Jacket. The Hurt Locker is much different from those as it delves into one of the worst military occupations. But these guys do more than that. I would tell you, but I guess you will have to see it for yourself.

Hopefully, those who oppose the war see this film so that they can reaffirm their respect for what our men and women in uniform do to help free others from tyranny. It is an eye opener to life in Iraq for American soldiers. Escaping reality is not an option.