Reviewed by Johnny McNair

 

Summit Entertainment – 131 mins – 2008 – Rated R – 1080p Widescreen 1.78:1 – Dolby Digital DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio

 

 

There have been a good number of films about the war in Iraq, but none of them have stuck to audiences or received high praise from critics. After many attempts one movie has actually managed to do both, as well as receive the highest honor, an Academy Award nomination for best picture. The Hurt Locker directed by one of my favorite underrated directors, Kathryn Bigelow, has beat the odds and long after the war is over it will be remembered as one of the best movies on the subject. If you haven’t seen it yet, The Hurt Locker is available on Blu-ray courtesy of Summit Entertainment, and it is definitely worth your viewing attention.

 

THE MOVIE

 

The best thing about The Hurt Locker is that it does not have an A-list star attached, so instantly you have no expectations of what the outcome will be. The film takes place in Irag in 2004 following an explosive disposal unit that has just suffered a loss of their main bomb technician due to a situation gone wrong. After the loss, Sgt. William James (Jeremy Renner) is given the position, leading a group of disarmament experts who are doing the most dangerous job in the war. Sgt. James is a rebel and does not follow the rules, making the men on his team, Sanborn and Eldridge (Anthony Mackie and Brian Geraghty) very cautious of him. Tension between the men deepens as Sgt. James’ takes more and more risks, putting them all in greater danger. But unlike Sgt. James these guys are both about to end their rotation and just want to careful and stay alive so they can go home.

 

Directed by Kathryn Bigelow, probably one of the only female filmmakers who make action movies, (Point Break, Near Dark, Strange Days) The Hurt Locker, though offering plenty of intense action, is her most serious film to date, offering real characters who are unlike the typical rock-n-roll mavericks that were used to seeing in her movies. Where other war movies turn up the patriotic burner, The Hurt Locker just focuses on the war for what it is to the soldiers who are serving…it’s a job. These brave soldiers do things on a daily basis, risking their lives on the clock. There is a scene where a bomb that can take out ten city blocks has to be dismantled and these guys have no other choice but to do it. This is their job. It doesn’t matter how bad of a day you had at work, you’ll most likely never be in a situation where you have to deal with a bomb that can take out a half-mile radius. This is pure macho adrenaline, and Bigelow nails it perfectly.

 

The backdrop may be a sinister on-going war, but it’s the characters that make it work so successfully. Particularly Renner and Mackie, who are pitted against each other in two of the best performances on screen in 2009. The Hurt Locker does not have the action of other war films, but it doesn’t need it. Its action is in its realism, and highlights a part of the war that few ever even knew about. Fans of Kathryn Bigelow’s work will clearly see how she has evolved as a director, and anyone looking for a solid well acted and executed movie, The Hurt Locker should be on your list. Forget Avatar, The Hurt Locker should be best picture of the year.

 

VIDEO

 

The film is photographed with a documentary style, but not the typical ‘shakey-cam’ look, more of a well-balanced news doc meets gritty splendor. Offering a full 1080p image in a 1.78:1 frame the transfer looks amazing with purposely-muted colors to give the illusion of the burning sun. Flesh tones look good, displaying the sweat-soaked dirty faces of the soldiers, and details like uniforms soiled with sand jump out at you. This is a near flawless transfer that is a must for visual purist and will make you happy you own a Blu-ray player.

 

AUDIO

 

The Hurt Locker provides a Dolby Digital DTS-HD 5.1 Master audio track that will immerse you into the movie. Dialogue is clean, and background ambience makes situations tense, particularly when a bomb must be dismantled. When explosions do occur, instead of just going for a loud bang, emphasis to make the blasts more realistic is executed with absolute perfection. Like the picture quality, the sound design is top notch and will draw the viewer in.

 

EXTRAS

 

This film deserves much more bonus features than what is offered, but with the Oscar buzz, (and hopefully win) there may be an ultimate edition in the future.

 

Kathryn Bigelow and the film’s writer Mark Boal provide an audio commentary track, and it’s a good one, not only providing on the set tales, but also talk about what made Bigelow want to do this movie, and filming in a danger zone. Do yourself a favor and listen to this one all the way through.

 

The Hurt Locker: Behind the Scenes is a quick look at the making of the film featuring interviews from the filmmakers and cast. Running only 12 minutes, it feels like a tease for something that could have been much more informative, but keeps your fingers crossed for an ultimate edition with a better behind the scenes documentary.

 

Finally, there’s a gallery of images from the film as well as behind the scenes that run 23 minutes as a recording of a Q&A featuring Bigelow and Boal done after a screening of the film in London at the Institute of Contemporary Art.

 

BOTTOM LINE

 

The Hurt Locker is an excellent motion picture not only about the war, but also about how it affects the soldiers on both sides. The Blu-ray delivers top quality sound and audio, but the bonus features are limited, making you think there may be a double-dip in the works. Without a doubt this is Kathryn Bigelow’s best film and she will get the Academy award for best director this year. Do yourself a favor and ad this movie to your collection.

 

SCORES: (Out of 5):

 

The Movie: 5.0

Video: 5.0

Sound: 4.5

Extras: 2.5

Bottom Line: 4.0