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Capone hails the explosive power of Kathryn Bigelow's THE HURT LOCKER!!!
Hey, everyone. Capone in Chicago here.
How can I put this as gently as possible? Let whatever higher power I believe in help me find the words. Ah, here we go: You're a fucking idiot if THE HURT LOCKER is playing within a 50-mile radius of where you live and you don't go see it. OK, I understand there might be extenuating circumstances that could keep you from going to see what is one of the best films of the year and easily the finest set in the midst of the Iraq War, but unless you're in a vegetative state, you've really go not excuse. If you don't have a car, start walking. If you're too young to see this R-rated fare, they're doing wonders with aging makeup these days; take advantage of this. The truth is, I don't think director Kathryn Bigelow's film about three men in the Army's Explosive Ordinance Disposal unit (in other words, they disarm bombs to the tune of hundreds per tour of duty) is going to make a lot of money, but that's entirely up to a nation that has for the most part dismissed films about war in any part of the Middle East or ones about soldiers returning home, whether the works are features or documentaries. It's shameful and it's very telling.
Look at it this way, American troops just pulled out of Iraq's largest cities last week. If this news makes you happy, go celebrate by checking out this extraordinarily tension-filling character study of these soldiers who locate and dismantle roadside bombs, often booby-trapped to explode when someone just like them tries to disable it. It was the 4th of July last week. Did it make you feel even a little patriotic? Then go honor our troops by celebrating their unfathomable bravery by checking out THE HURT LOCKER, based on a screenplay by Mark Boal, a journalist who saw much of what is portrayed in the film when he was embedded with an EOD squad. The film doesn't even have what I would consider much of a story, and that's OK. What we get instead is something so much more powerful and insightful; we get characters doing the scariest job on the planet over and over and over again, until we are right there inside their heads, moving our fingers across dusty wires right along with them, and holding our breath for as long as we can. Does this bomb have a timer? A trigger? Or will it be activated remotely by an unseen terrorist with a cell phone? Each bomb is different, and each situation brings a new set of circumstances that would drive most human beings to a resounding and well-earned mental collapse.
The actors' names in this film won't mean much to you, but they are well worth mentioning and learning for future reference (because there will be future reference). I've admired Anthony Mackie's work for quite a number of years in smaller roles in 8 MILE, THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE, MILLION DOLLAR BABY, WE ARE MARSHALL, and EAGLE EYE. He's been in a couple of lesser-known Spike Lee offerings, and I believe he's set to play Jesse Owens in a biopic due next year. In Hurt Locker, he is meant to be the voice of reason in the ear of his new partner Jeremy Renner (THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES, NORTH COUNTRY, 28 WEEKS LATER), a man so confident in his abilities that he forgets sometimes that he works as part of a team. Mackie is the voice of God that keeps Renner alive mission after mission in 120-plus-degree heat. There are a few more-familiar faces tossed in just to make sure you're paying attention (David Morse, Evangeline Lilly, Guy Pearce and Ralph Fiennes all show up briefly), but these exceptional actors don't distract us in the slightest from the real work at hand.
Although Bigelow has been known to get her testosterone on in the past with such films as POINT BREAK, STRANGE DAYS, NEAR DARK, and K-19, this film isn't about action as you know it. THE HURT LOCKER certainly incorporates certain action elements, but it does so in very different ways. The use of music is sparse; she uses silence and long stretches without dialogue to build tension; there's not a lot of yelling during a missions (the soldiers seem to store it up and let it out back at the base). It's almost impossible to fathom when death is a fingerslip away that people can be so outwardly calm and steady of hand.
Honestly, there isn't much more to say about THE HURT LOCKER beyond "Go see it." I don't want to reveal too much more about what little plot there is, and the film's true enjoyment comes from watching these character do their jobs and interact with each other in some of the most revealing and beneath-the-skin moments of any film set during this conflict. I suppose you might see the film as part ultimate suspense film-part character study (the film is roughly divided in half in just such a fashion), but all I saw was a master tension builder at work. The more we learn about these men, the more we care about them entering each new mission and the more we know about their fragile state of mind as they do. Watching THE HURT LOCKER terrified me at times, both for the physical and emotional well being of its characters. My psyche was seriously fractured after watching this movie, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Seek this one out like your life depended on it.
-- Capone
capone@aintitcoolmail.com
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i was planning on it..good to know she can do more than kick ass ACTION.
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One of my favorites of the year.
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Hands down.
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not here not yet...and i dont want to wait for fucking january when the noms start flowing.
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People dismiss the recent mideast war films because they are well aware of the political slant hollywood has. What is so shameful about not supporting a film whose attempt at 'truth' smears the soldiers and or US government?? We're living through war time and we get plenty of 'truth' from the rabid talking heads on news channels. Try something different and put together a film that is unquestionably patriotic and see how many people support it. There's a reason Transformers did so well and it certainly is not because of a great plot.
With that said, this film looks like it could be a real winner. This is the type of film that shows a real appreciation for our men and women over there. Count me in for a screening -
I want to see it but I'm not driving all over creation (sorry Capone, I got an excuse, it's called gas prices)to see a movie that will be on DVD in a few months. It would be nice if this got into some more theaters (preferably one closer to me) but I doubt this will happen. That's too bad.
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If they take Transformers off of one of the six fucking screens it is on in this 14 screen theater.
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Guaranteed to NOT be playing ANYWHERE near you. It's disgusting that such a great bit of cinema could be so ignored. Were all the art house theaters in the country too busy showing coming out films shot on DV this month or something?
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best film of the year so far.
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We're really excited. Got real pumped watching Blue Steel and Strange Days recently. SUPPORT OUR TROOPS. SUPPORT BIGELOW AND LET'S ALL GO SEE THIS FILM!!!
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This had me as tense as any movie I have seen in ages. It is basically a series of vignettes and you don't know exactly what to expect from scene to scene. I will say that the title card at the beginning of the movie gives you all the information you need to know about Sgt. James and why he does what he does. One of the best movies of the year.
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...but I'm not taking three trains (Long Island Rail Road and subway) just to go see this.
Hopefully, it gets a wide release, otherwise I'll have to wait for DVD. -
Thanks, Capone! Great review. I can't wait to see this, but unfortunately I'll have to wait for the DVD or Blu-Ray. "The Hurt Locker" isn't playing within 70 (fucking) miles of my town.
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Rest assured, if it comes any closer, I'm there. -
Sure sounds like it. A dearth of candidates so far may be boosting it for the time being, before the envitable onslaught of prestige pics at year's end...it would be very nice to see Bigelow get a nod
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Public Enemies and UP were the only decent movies so far this year, but I think that Hurt Locker could top them both... until Avatar comes out... Go Bigelow!
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God only knows where that came from.
I found the film to be good,not brilliant. -
Hey, I was one of the lucky few that got to see In The Valley of Elah at the theaters. The problem is, is that Hollywood is very, very, very crafty at only showing one side of the argument. Almost all Hollywood films having to do with anything regarding the current wars are propaganda films just as guilty as Triumph of the Will at being partisan. America likes a good war movie, especially ones that focus on the heroes that put their lives on the line every single day for a country and government that shits on them. A good portion of America is sick and tired of watching films that exist only to provoke a reaction and push along an agenda. I am dying to see The Hurt Locker but it's not playing anywhere around me yet. My local multiplex still needs four screens for Transformers, so I get no Moon or Hurt Locker. I just hope this film doesn't delve too deeply with how out-of-touch Hollywood feels about the war and instead focuses on the brave few who risk themselves so that we have the freedom to look down on them.
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Oh yeah
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But I had to make an exception with this one. I knew that we'd never get it in our area in a million years and I just wasn't willing to wait for DVD to see this. There is a perfect-quality torrent out there and it's well worth checking out. Amazing film, in my opinion. I hope Jeremy Renner gets recognized with SOMETHING for his performance here. Him and his weird Ninja Turtle fingernails.
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ok, i'll give in reluctantly to seeing one of the most awesome films of the year.
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No, really, Katryn Bigelow makes a good movie? No, really? Well, i never!!!Joking asid,e anybody saying that The Hurt Locker is good movie is like the least expected news i could even think of the moment. The woman is a brillanty director. She is one of the best thereis today. It's a pity she has made so few movies in her 25 or 30 years long carrer. It's a damn waste of such great talent.And that The Hurt Locker is a good movie is no suprise to me. The only question about any new Bigelow movie is not if it's good, but how good. And she winning an oscar would be justice, delayed justice, but justice nontheless.
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...where an independent studio should release a film simultaneously to itunes , pay per view or netflix along with a limited theatrical release.
What's the point of putting a small movie out and release it in a handful of cities, and even then in only a theater or two. What a waste. This was acceptable pre-internet and pre-broadband. Now, not so much. -
Agreed. The avoidance of most of the Iraq war films so far doesn't say anything negative about the American public; it means they have a low tolerance for piss-poor preachy films.
Unfortunately, the exceptions to that, like this film seems to be, might be overlooked. It's getting pretty good reviews from everywhere. Bigelow probably isn't that recognizable of a name to the public, but several of her movies certainly are. -
I am a HUGE DePalma fan. Loved Casualties Of War. But Redacted was not only awful but extremely offensive to our troops.
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I downloaded it well over a month ago. That being said, I'm planning on paying to see it in the theater because it kicks that much ass. Also- I watched "Near Dark" last night. I'm going to go ahead and say its intensely "meh". Lost Boys and Fright Night are both far better films.
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Since it's not playing near me and I've been wanting to watch this for awhile (I hear it's really really good).
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I guess you preferred Twilight to Let The Right One In?
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Jul 10, 2009 3:16:07 PM CDT
The reason why the recent glut of Iraq War movies were ignored..
by nasty in the pasty
...is that most of them kinda sucked. Here's hoping "Bam-Bam" Bigelow can make the first authentically great Iraq movie.
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WHAMMY!
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Near Dark is in the middle.
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Actually- I own Let the Right One In on Blu Ray. Bought it the day it came out. I hate, absolutely detest, Twilight and everything that's been tainted by it. I love Lost Boys and the Fright Night movies because they're intensely faithful to vampire lore and myth (with the exception of Kiefer Sutherland dying on an antler), but they also manage to have some humor. I'll admit that I've seen Twilight, but we only watched it out of solidarity for my future brother in law, who watched it for his b movie review video blog on youtube. I promptly went out and started punching teen girls in the face.
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I liked this movie. Went into it not knowing much about it and came out really liking it. I know people just like that. Addicted to duty. Guys in spec ops units spending years on deployment puting their lives on the line every day. I think it's a condition that should be studied more.
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all i can say is that this movie better be friggin awesome for all the hype its getting around here. considering aicn's track record of being paid off... i remain sceptical but still optimistic
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Lost Boys, meh, it was fine for its time period but it's almost unwatchable now. It's what happens when you make a movie that's TOO contemporary with top 40-ish hits in the soundtrack; it's instantly dated.
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I think Lost Boys still holds up. You just have to take it in context. Its a good representation of the 80's, just like Robocop or Miami Vice. But I do agree- music does date movies more then anything else. Except hair.
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Walking around the supermarket with his son, Evangeline Lilly and her superb ass. You see the look on Renner's face is just blank. It's like he isn't alive anymore. He's a great actor hopefully this will get him the big roles he deserves. Anthony Mackie too. A scary scene is when they get seperated chasing a bomber through the Bagdhad streets at night. All three of them know what will happen to them if the walk down the wrong alley and get taken.
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"but that's entirely up to a nation that has for the most part dismissed films about war in any part of the Middle East or ones about soldiers returning home, whether the works are features or documentaries." The reason that's true is because, for the most part, those films have been critical of our soldiers, or of the missions they were on, or have focused on some of the atrocities committed by a small number of men (and women), when the overwhelming majority of our armed forces men and women in the Middle East have been tremendously brave, generous, hard-working, unselfish individuals working as one. I hope this film makes shit-loads of cash.
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If you think that Redacted is offensive to your troops, then you have drank the kool-aid and gave up critical though. Redacted might be the most angry movie i ever seen, but the anger is not directed to "the troops", but the general human stupidty, be that from the front or from home. It's a movie angry that we haven't learned anything yet since the days 'f the filmamkers' youth, and specifically, from the Vietnam War. And guess what, he's right. He's very, very right. And if you thinkthat movie offendes the "troops", you not only have not understood it, you also fail to understand the whole thing which the war and the troops is only a litle part of.
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While an enjoyable little vampyre movie with an unexpected darkly tone to it, considering it is in essence a teen horror movie, it does suffer from this typical commercial malaise which damns them to future watchings: it too much a movie it' it's time. And it's so because it's one of those mvoies that was desinged to be hip with the teens of the time. And teen fashions move faster then the speed of light. Lost Boys i find it far more dated then Point Blank, to tell you the truth.
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The reason people have dismissed the movies (not docos) about the Iraq War is because Americans don't like seeing US Soldiers as the bad guys. Make a movie where jihadist are the bad guys and not victims then you'll make some money.
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Americans as the bad guys? Something tells me that movie would be a pretty big hit all over the world.
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It's funny that some people maintain the ideal that we "learn" from past wars. My father served in Vietnam, mailed his medals back to the government two years after returning home, and is now a member of Veterans for Peace. My hat's off to him. I love my dad.
But films like "The Hurt Locker" aren't pushing for peace. They simply show the intense, ongoing drama of military life. The stories are fascinating and often quite moving because they're about people. They're about soldiers. It gives civilians like myself a chance to see a tiny bit of what it's like to be in combat, what it's like to face bullet-heavy fear and mortality, and what it's like to work as a American unit on foreign soil. It gives me an appreciation for our soldiers.
Anti-war movies have their place. Picasso said, “Art is a lie that makes us realize the truth.” Well, people turn against war if they think it's unjust. Anti-war movies give us the truth from the filmmakers' perspectives.
But nothing ever stops war from happening. Ever. A government puts out one fire, two more start up. Humans are biologically programmed to fight for resources -- real or perceived -- and conflict is the method of making this happen. So what, exactly, did we learn from World War II or Vietnam? We learned how to build better weapons. We learned how to manage (some would say stifle) the media. We learned how to integrate new strategies and technologies. And that's it.
Therefore, the stories of soldiers in the field are what (sometimes) constitute great movies. Because they're people and they have experiences. Pro- or anti-war films always fade away. But the memorable war films don't have an agenda. They're about people, about soldiers doing what they do. That's good storytelling.
I think Kathryn Bigelow brought this to the table with "The Hurt Locker." I can't wait to see it. -
any movie that shows an honest and true depiction of war ends up as an anti-war movie, merely on the fact it shows how terrible, dammaging and horrible war is. Which makes sense. So, unless a war movie is this jingoisitic piece of shit that depicts war as an all heroic affair without any look at the damamge and destruction it causes, then any honest war movie is an anti-war movie. Only psychos would come out of such a movie and think war must be great to be in.
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