The Hurt Locker

Starring Jeremy Renner

You have a month left on your tour in Iraq as a bomb specialist so the goal is fairly simple. Stay alive. Easier said than done for one of the deadliest assignments the armed forces has to offer.
Directed by Kathryn Bigelow (K-19, Point Break) the Hurt Locker has its fair share of gritty suspense and shoot outs but that might just be an understatement of Oscar worthy proportions. The suspense is the kind where you know full well what to expect and it almost always is, but getting there makes you sick to your stomach with anxiety.
The end game for these scenes are shot in a spectacular slow motion style that lets you fully appreciate the gravity of these harrowing events. Style coupled with a frank approach to a simple story are what makes this war movie an Academy Award nominated war movie. Each actor compliments the other, from the wimp to the cowboy to the head strong 2nd in command, we have no weak link and the stand out performance from the lead is what earned Jeremy Renner and Oscar nomination. He is not a big name like Clooney or Bridges and may not win but the old adage that its an honor just to be nominated actually holds true here and he should be honored.
The same goes for Bigelow who in the past has directed her fair share of suspense and action movies but this time around has created something that much more. She too is nominated this year and finds herself up against her ex husband (James Cameron) who is up for best director for Avatar??!! Sufficed to say, he doesn't need or deserve this award when compared to an actual cast of humans being directed deftly by another fellow human.
If James Cameron actually does win. Here's hoping he acknowledges his ex and that his speech isn't as jackassish as his first. Geez try saying that one 5 times fast.

Rating 4 green wires out of 5

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