Director: Kathryn Bigelow
Starring: Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie and Evangeline Lily
‘A Magnificent Masterpiece’
Few actors in Hollywood have made films that audiences honour as much as Jeremy Renner. Ever since his rise to recognition in the 1990’s, Renner has become a legendary icon. Whether it’s traumatized war soldiers, bank robbers or comic-book characters, Renner has proven he can play many roles. Arguably, Renner’s finest strength as an actor has always been bravery. He’s one of those actors that has seldom been afraid of taking on the risky roles of characters that aren’t always likeable. He has poured his heart and soul into every role demonstrating a strong devotion towards his art. Through brave career decisions, Renner has become an icon that audiences value. Shining a bright light in darkness, Renner has become one of the most beloved actors in the entertainment business. An actor that has powerful charisma, Renner has become an icon in America. Throughout a long-lasting career, Renner has made several strong movies which are definitely without any doubt worth seeing.
I’m a fan of Renner and admire all the movies that he has made in his career. However, “The Hurt Locker” may be my favourite. Ever since its release in 2009, Kathryn Bigelow’s film has stood the test of time as one of the finest war movies ever made. With the greatest movie of her illustrious career, Bigelow did an excellent job of capturing the Iraq War causing soldiers to face despair. Packed with bold production, engaging storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s one of the finest war movies ever made. At the centre of it all is an excellent performance by Jeremy Renner, who portrays a soldier that faces trauma in the Iraq War. Ultimately, what makes “The Hurt Locker” a masterpiece is its message. The film delivers a strong message about the consequences of warfare which will resonate with everyone. A riveting masterpiece about the Iraq War, there are several reasons why “The Hurt Locker” is a film that‘s definitely worth seeing.
Set due in the Iraq War, “The Hurt Locker” tells the story of a solider embarking on journeys to endure warfare disaster. Jeremy Renner plays Sergeant William James, a courageous soldier having a strong desire to participate in the Iraq War. William has always sought to take part in warfare about which he has grown up to care. However, William’s dreams of succeeding in the war are threatened by his confrontational style of work. William’s way of handling bomb explosives puts him at odds with the people in his army that resent him deeply. Following the devastating aftermath of the war, William finds it hard to adjust back to life at home with his family. Faced with a dilemma, James begins to question whether he will ever recover from his warfare trauma. As odds are stacked against his favour, James wonders whether he would ever be able to transform in a successful hurt locker.
Kathryn Bigelow is a newcomer toward themes of warfare. Before she had directed “The Hurt Locker”, Bigelow had never made a war movie in her career before. Bigelow was most famous for producing classic action movies. It was the filmmaker’s first attempt to capture hardships faced by soldiers detonating bombs during the Iraq War, but she succeeded. Using immersive cinematography, Bigelow captures a solider on a journey to discover his identity experiencing Iraq War tragedy. Visually, the movie is a feast for the eyes as stunning as bombs exploding in the skies. Bigelow successfully uses handheld camera to capture soldiers in the Iraq War that endure trauma. Throughout the movie, Bigelow uses handheld camera to capture tensions of soldiers detonating bombs in the Iraq War. For instance, the handheld camerawork enhances the bomb wiring scene. During this nail biting scene, Sergeant James handles the wiring of a bomb under extreme tension. One appreciates handheld camera capturing the trauma which soldiers in the Iraq War go through. Handheld camera is a tricky technique to use in movies. As Ben Affleck’s “The Town” suggested, hand-held camera elevate crime dramas about bank robberies. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this movie. Through stunning visuals, Bigelow captures soldiers enduring hardships that are terrifying.
Another powerful aspect of “The Hurt Locker” that is worth discussing is production. From a technical perspective, the movie is extremely well made. Bigelow has always excelled using diegetic sounds in her movies to build tension, and her strengths are clearly evident in “The Hurt Locker”. Throughout the movie, Bigelow effectively uses diegetic sounds to capture the painful reality of the Iraq War. Whether it’s the sounds of deafening bombs exploding or grim noises of heavy breathing, the diegetic sounds immerse viewers into the movie’s nightmarish setting. For instance, diegetic sounds elevate the car driver scene. During this unforgettable scene, the soldiers experience tensions when they witness an intrusive car driver in the war zone. One admires diegetic sounds that build unbearable tension capturing war destruction. Diegetic sounds are tricky techniques to use in movies. As Steven Spielberg’s “Saving Private Ryan” claimed, diegetic sounds elevate movies about WWII. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this movie. Furthermore, the musical score is dazzling. It gives the film a tense atmosphere capturing the burden which war veterans bear. Through powerful production-design, Bigelow captures soldiers experiencing wars causing lives to decline.
Storytelling is one of the key reasons why “The Hurt Locker” is a captivating war classic which is compelling. Amidst the breathtaking scenes of warfare destruction, the film finds time to tell a compelling story. The movie is beautifully written, and effectively uses silence to capture soldiers facing war disturbance. Bigelow’s strength as a screenwriter is his ability to convey trauma endured by soldiers following the war through silence. Throughout the movie, Bigelow uses silence to capture the negative impact of war upon James’ experience. For instance, silence elevates the grocery store scene. During this memorable scene, James struggles to adjust towards life in the real world haunted by grim nightmares of warfare. One admires silences which capture trauma experienced by soldiers in warfare. Silence is a tricky technique to use in war movies. Most war movies are driven by loud sounds to demonstrate warfare. As Denis Villeneuve’s “Arrival” claimed clearly, scenes of silence enhance science fiction alien invasion movies. Nevertheless, it works tremendously in this movie. Through a spectacular screenplay, Bigelow captures the lives of soldiers facing a price to pay.
One appreciates astonishing performances.
Jeremy Renner delivers one of his best career performances as Sergeant James. Renner first achieved appreciation for playing superheroes in classic comic book movies. With “The Hurt Locker”, however, he took on his most intense role. It isn’t easy to embody the personality of a soldier facing the Iraq War causing despair, but he pulled it off immensely. This is the actor unlike you’ve ever seen him before: emotional, intense and vulnerable in his most memorable role. It’s a role that gave Renner an opportunity to showcase emotional vulnerability he hadn’t shown in his career before. With phenomenal expressions, he conveys the angst, courage and trauma of a veteran enduring the painful consequences of warfare causing disaster. It’s a powerful performance from one of the most commemorated actors working in Hollywood today.
The supporting cast is sensational and also worthy of appreciation. Anthony Mackie is astonishing, capturing bravery of a solider embarking upon a journey to confront wars causing tragedy. Guy Pearce is phenomenal, capturing the courage of a solider which is willing to die in a war causing consequences which terrify. Lastly, Ralph Fiennes deserves recognition. As a destructive soldier enduring tensions, he brings heartbreaking emotions to the movie.
Finally, “The Hurt Locker” would achieve the appreciation of everyone for capturing tense hardships faced by soldiers in the Iraq War. Unlike most war movies, it discusses themes wberyone would relate to. It tackles universal themes including identity, warfare and trauma which would resonate with everyone. Viewers aren’t required to be familiar with the history of the Iraq war to appreciate it. It delivers a bold message about trauma which would resonate with everyone. Therefore, “The Hurt Locker” is one of those rare war movies which everyone would adore.
Fans of Jeremy Renner would definitely enjoy “The Hurt Locker” and so will movie-goers seeking exhilarating entertainment. A fantastic war drama, it honours an actor with charisma that has become an icon of Cinema.
Nearly 20 years following the release of a groundbreaking war movie about tormented soldiers struggling detonating terrifying bombs facing consequences of warfare that prove to be frightening, it’s a riveting reminder about an actor that has gained a huge fan following earning worldwide appreciation for his abilities to portray conflicted characters that are compelling whose timeless movies are definitely without a doubt worth celebrating.
5/5 stars
The Film Buff 