War Zone Warriors by Linh
After
a successful round of film festival screenings and numerous awards for the film
and its cast members, The Hurt Locker
received nine Academy Award nominations, winning six of them including Best
Picture, Best Original Screenplay and Best Film Editing. The film also earned
director Kathryn Bigelow the Academy Award for Best Direction, which was the
first time a woman has ever received an Oscar for directing a film. Bigelow
also became the first woman to win the Best Director awards at the Critic’s Choice Awards and Director’s
Guild Awards ceremonies.
ENCIRCLED: Staff Sergeant William
James (Jeremy Renner) discovers a cluster of connected bombs waiting to
detonate in the film The Hurt Locker.
Image: Summit Entertainment, Voltage Pictures.
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The Hurt Locker received rave reviews
and initially screened on a limited release in the US, until it managed to
slowly gain audience support and critics’ attention. The film is based on
journalist Mark Boal's real experiences when he was embedded with US soldiers
during the War in Iraq, and tells of the final thirty nine days of a mission
for three members of the Army's elite Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) squad
stationed in Baghdad. The trio must attempt to defuse all bombs as they battle
insurgents, suicide bombers and snipers to protect themselves and the civilians
of Baghdad.
The Hurt Locker is definitely packed
with heart-stopping and awe-filled intensity, as viewers become so engaged with
the action and grow concerned for the characters that it seems more like
watching live-to-air news footage or a documentary than a film.
Portions
of the film were shot using hand-held cameras to particularly capture the drama
and unpredictability of defusing bombs, with occasional fleeting shots of
everyday Iraqis watching from all vantage points throughout the film.
WARTIME ALLIES: Contract Team Leader
(Ralph Fiennes) joins the bomb squad on the defensive against the snipers in
the film The Hurt Locker. Image:
Summit Entertainment, Voltage Pictures.
|
CARE AND CONCENTRATION: Staff Sergeant William
James (Jeremy Renner) takes great care to cut the wire in the film The Hurt Locker. Image: Summit Entertainment,
Voltage Pictures.
|
Academy
Award nominee Jeremy Renner is excellent as the wild Staff Sergeant William
James who is brought in to replace the deceased Staff Sergeant Matt Thompson
(played by Australian actor Guy Pearce).
His unconventional and fearless recklessness puts his own life and the
lives of his colleagues in danger, but his mind is always focussed on the job
and he is protective of the local street urchins.
Anthony
Mackie’s portrayal as Sergeant James Sanborn is intense and controlled as he
demands protocol and co-operation from Staff Sergeant William James. Underneath
the tough exterior lies fragility and vulnerability and James Sanborn is
visibly affected by the death and destruction that comes with his job.
Brian
Geraghty plays Specialist Owen Eldridge and he is mainly off the bomb field but
his keen eye for spotting potential threats to the bomb squad’s safety while
disarming bombs makes him a vital member of the team.
Director
Kathryn Bigelow ensured realism and timeliness was achieved by filming as close
to the real life action as possible. The film crew attempted to get into Iraq
but their safety was not guaranteed, so they ended up filming in the much safer
grounds of Jordan.
Cinematographer
Barry Ackroyd has captured the beauty of the location from sweeping images of
the desert regions to the authentic architecture along the streets.
FAMILY MAN: Staff Sergeant William
James (Jeremy Renner) misses his partner Connie (Evangeline Lilly) and his baby
son in the film The Hurt Locker. Image: Summit Entertainment, Voltage Pictures.
|
Director: Kathryn Bigelow
Writer: Mark Boal (screenplay)
Cast: Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie,
Brian Geraghty, Ralph Fiennes, Guy Pearce, David Morse, Evangeline Lilly,
Christopher Sayegh, Nabil Koni, Nibras Quassem, Suhail Aldabbach , Christian
Camargo
Producers: Kathryn Bigelow, Mark
Boal, Greg Shapiro, Nicolas Chartier, Tony Mark, Donall McCusker, Jenn Lee,
Jack Schuster
Original Music Composers: Marco Beltrami, Buck
Sanders
Cinematographer: Barry Ackroyd
Film Editors: Chris Innis, Bob Murawski
Production: Karl Juliusson
(Production Designer), David Bryan (Art Director), Amin Charif El Masri (Set
Decorator)
Costume Designer: George L. Little
Running Time: 2 hours and 10 minutes
The 123movies action sequences are freakin amazing! The cinematic experience makes this movie with a purchase. Regardless of politics, watch this zmovie with surround sound and you won't be disappointed!
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