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The Hurt Locker (2008)

thereviewers
May 2, 2015
2 min read

The Hurt Locker sees Sergeant William James (Jeremy Renner) take command of a highly trained bomb disposal unit, during the Iraq War. Sgt. James must convince his men to place their lives on the line, despite his suicidal methods and total disregard for danger.

Overall Review Score

8.5 out of 10

Review

The Hurt Locker is an 126 minute immersive war film that drops the audience into the deadly and high octane world of Explosive Ordnance Disposal. Directed by Kathryn Bigelow, the Hurt Locker treats the audience to a master class of cinematography – everything from the scenery, choice of camera lenses characters, and script worked well. Jeremy Renner’s portrayal of Sergeant William James, an EOD technician with a death wish, has the audience on their seat from the opening scene to the ending credits and brings the unique challenges and harsh realities of not only the Iraq War but of the job an EOD technician alive. The Hurt Locker has gone on to win six Oscars and six BAFTAs among other awards and it is not surprising. If you want a war film that is unique, suspenseful and will leave you fully satisfied the Hurt Locker is it.

Reviewer 1's score & comments:

Score: 9 out of 10

Comments:

After viewing this film, it is no wonder why it won six Oscars and six Bafta’s including ‘Best Picture’ and ‘Best Film’. The Hurt Locker is an intriguing portrayal of the lives of members of the Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) Unit, with combines a fresh and unique story, immersive and memorable characters with some truly unforgettable scenes. This film definitely sets a new benchmark for the Drama genre.

Reviewer 2's score & comments:

Score: 8 out of 10

Comments:

A gritty and somewhat realistic look at the work of the Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) units in Iraq, the Hurt Locker explodes on the screen with a heart racing, nail biting storyline that never lets up. The plotline, characters, and tension feel real and this is a testament to the immense writing abilities of Mark Boal, who not only wrote the film but also spent time with an EOD team in Iraq in 2004.