The Hurt Locker
Directed by Kathryn Bigelow
I ‘ve always thought the true mark of a well-made thriller is when it produces a noticable physical reaction. This is part of what makes the theatrical filmgoing experience so crucial to ensure you’re getting the full impact of a film. The body produces physiological effects in response to movie viewing, and when people are gathered in large numbers, those effects have a measurable impact on each other. In the right circumstances, it can produce a palatable ratcheting up of tension and stress in a room of otherwise passive viewers. The air gets an electric quality, and the mind is pulled farther into the movie than it might have been if the viewer was alone.
Such is the experience of watching The Hurt Locker, as I did last night. On more than one occaision I realized I had not swallowed or inhaled in a long time. I observed the people around me sucking in periodical gasps of breath as well. Some even yelled out at the screen in anticipation (one scene in particular was met with calls of “shoot him!” which was made even more surprising by the fact that we were watching the film in the Arclight Hollywood theater, ostensibly a liberal enclave not used to goading American soldiers into using their weapons). There was much cringing, sweater-chewing, eye shielding, and long stretches of uncomfortable silence, with each new setpiece exploited to its full thrilling potential.
It’s hard to say which of a myriad of elements that work cause the film to be so successful, the spot on and restrained performances, the eloquent and decidedly non-preachy writing, the frenetic and realistic cinematography; any could have been the sole saving grace in a lesser film, but in The Hurt Locker, each detail is allowed to shine without overpowering the rest. Better to acknowledge, then, that it is rare to watch a movie as methodically and expertly crafted.
No matter what preconcieved notions you may have, if you love movies then The Hurt Locker is required viewing. It’s worth mentioning that though the film is set in current day Iraq, it is not a film about the Iraq war, an important detail as I feel the setting may turn off many potential viewers. It’s also not a straightforward bomb-difusing suspense film, as my personal favorite sequence had absolutely nothing to do with explosive devices. Instead, The Hurt Locker is that most rare of genres: an all-around fantastic film. Don’t miss it.
Condensed letter grade for lazy assholes that don’t like reading: A
