The Hurt Locker Review

Credits:

Director:

Kathryn Bigelow

Writer (WGA):

Mark Boal (written by)

Release Date:

17 September 2009 (Portugal) 

Genre:

Action | Drama | Thriller | War 

Awards:

Won 6 Oscars. Another 72 wins & 46 nominations

            Since mankind exists, there’s always been war among societies. Its existence has led to its recreation in the world of films, such as "Patton", "Saving Private Ryan" and "Black Hawk Down".

In my opinion, War has been people’s favourite type of films in the last decades. The reasons have to do with factors such as the “modern wars” of Iraq and of Afghanistan, the special effects in these films and the desire of being part of the war.

            Recently, the film "The Hurt Locker" directed by Kathryn Bigelow won the Academy Award for best film of the year. Actually, I had bet it would win…

            The story covers a period in the life of William James (Iraq War 2004), a brave but reckless soldier, who was chosen to lead the team of two other members of the U.S. Army. James is an expert in defusing unexploded hidden devices. Because of this fact, at a time when the Iraqi streets are dangerously trapped with these devices, his task becomes natural and regular. Unfortunately, James proves to have a true love for war, making decisions that endanger the lives of all his teammates that work with him.

            At the beginning of the film, there´s a quote - "The rush of battle is a potent and often lethal addiction, for war is a drug". Throughout the film we will realize that this expression is a synopsis of the film. It tries to explain that war is a drug, and like all drugs, human beings change both physically and psychologically, becoming more addictive especially to James.

            In my opinion, the film seeks to portray two aspects: first, it shows how the life of a soldier on the battlefield really is, with one of the most dangerous jobs in the world, an expert in unexploded hidden devices; the second one is to depict the psychological and physical consequences of the war on people. In general, the movie is well done, has a good script and some scenes are impressive, like the one on which a bullet is dropped on the ground in slow-motion.

            

451 - Fernades