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Kathryn Bigelow has been away from our screens for some time, since her Harrison Ford submarine drama K-19: The Widowmaker tanked. Prior to that disappointment, she was one of Hollywood's hottest (in business terms) female directors. She is certainly no Nancy Myers; she emphatically does not make chick flicks. The Hurt Locker may not have as much testosterone coursing through its vein as, say, 300 (what film does?), but it is certainly macho. There's barely a female character (Evangeline Lilly of TV's Lost fame turns up for two blink-and-you'll-miss-her scenes), and the majority of the film is about the adrenaline surge that comes with the life-and-death game of warzone bomb disposal. While the film doesn't explicitly offer a stance either for or against war (either the Iraq war specifically or war in general), but it's difficult to watch the film and not think how cool - if life-threatening - the job is. The film opens with a quotation describing war as a drug, and Bigelow effectively conveys exactly why it's so addictive.
What the film lacks in narrative - it's basically just a month in the life of a US army bomb disposal squad, with no discernable 'plot' per se - it makes up for in suspense, which it supplies in spades. The film may be harshly judged as simply a string of set-pieces, but what set pieces. Each and every single one is a masterclass in piling on the suspense to unbearable levels, and despite the inherent episodic nature of events, repetition is avoided thanks to some enjoyable variety in the dangers faced by the disposal team. The director compensates for the lack of feeling that events are building towards a conclusion by including an occasional onscreen caption indicating how many days the troops have left in the sweltering Iraqi desert. It's probably a good thing that Bigelow avoids resorting to a conventional plot because the lack of Hollywood melodrama and narrative contrivances is refreshing and adds immeasurably to the sense of reality that is maintained throughout.
Whether dictated by budget limitations or the director's wishes, the choice to employ relatively unknown faces for the central cast pays off excellently, as it helps reinforce the illusion that we're watching real army grunts doing their thing. The lead character, SSgt. James, is played by Jeremy Renner (28 Weeks Later) with a well-judged combination of brash arrogance and human vulnerability, frequently sparring with Sgt. Sanborn (Anthony Mackie, Million Dollar Baby) to literally explosive results. There are some recognisable faces - the aforementioned Evangeline Lilly, Guy Pearce, Ralph Feinnes - but none have more than a couple of scenes, and all slot into the film seamlessly. Kathryn Bigelow is the star here, bringing all of her considerable skill (which she has previously shown in the likes of Near Dark, Point Break, and the underrated, compelling Strange Days) back to cinema screens.
The summary
The Hurt Locker may seem like just another Iraq war film, but it's far more than that - may it be suggested that it's this generation's Platoon?
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