Over the last several years, numerous films have come out detailing the rigorous lives and heartache that comes with war. From last year's Stop-Loss to 2006's Home of the Brave, studios are attempting to relate to their audience and provide them with a 'real' connection to those serving overseas. While some films have proven successful, few have been able to fully capture the events in Iraq, until now.
Shying away from gun combat, The Hurt Locker focuses in on a group of elite soldiers who have one of the most dangerous jobs in the world: disarming bombs in the heat of combat. The portrayal has never been done before, and with the current state of the Iraq war, and the increased usage of bombs over guns, the intensity and realistic effect could not be more haunting.
Instead of zoning in on characters and their origins and family, this film focuses in on the job at hand. Maneuvering from one bomb disarm to the next, there is little down town for the audience to sit and muster what is going on. As a result, you never get a break, mentally or physically. Instead, you sit through one intense sequence after another, often forgetting to breathe and in effect, diving head first into the story and the actions that unfold before you.
Another strong asset to the story is its up and coming stars. Featuring no Hollywood A-list name, the trio of leading actors help to create uncertainty within the hearts and minds of those watching on. Each character is vulnerable, making the film as terrifying as one could possibly image.
The intensity is painstakingly present, as are the emotions, the adrenaline and the fear of the unknown. The Hurt Locker doesn't capture the full complexity of war, but no film ever will. Thankfully, this is about as close as one can ever expect.
