ThefirsttimeweseethemaincharacterSergeantWilliamJamesin\"TheHurtLocker\",heiscoollywalkingtowardsabombhemustdefuse,asifhewasborntodoit.Asthemovieprogresses,weseebeyondhisbravadoandintothepainofhisjob.ThefilmissetduringtheIraqWar,whereateamofsoldiersareresponsiblefordisarmingbombs,oneofthedeadliesttasksinmodernwarfare.Inthisreview,we'llexplorethethemesofthefilmandhowitportraystheemotionalandphysicaltollofwaronthosewhofightit.
Thefirstthingthatstandsoutistheintensityofthebombdisposalscenes.Everytickingbombfeelslikeatickingtimebombtowardstheviewer'sownmortality.Thissuspenseisnotjustheightenedbythefilm'sscore,butalsobythecinematography.DirectorKathrynBigelowusesclose-upsandhandheldcameramovementstocreateasenseofurgency,andtheresultisnottoodifferentfromahorrormovie.It'sdifficultnottofeelstressedalongwiththecharacterswhilewatchingthemwork,andthisispreciselywherethefilm'sstrengthlies.
Thesecondthingthemoviedoeswellisinitscharacterdevelopment.Jamesmayhavebeenbuiltupasacool-headedexpert,butwealsogettoseehisflaws.He'samanwholivesforthethrillofthejob,whichinturnputstherestofhisteamatrisk.Hisdisregardforauthorityandadherencetoprotocolscauseriftsamonghisfellowsoldiers.BigelowalsoexploresthementaltollofwarinIraq,asJamessuffersfromPTSDafterconstantlywitnessingdeathanddestruction.Thewaythefilmhandlesthisissueissubtle,butit'senoughtomakeJamesasympatheticcharacterinspiteofhisflaws.
Thefinalstrengthofthefilmisthatitnevertriestoglamorizethewar,nordoesittrytogiveapoliticalpointofview.It'sawarmoviethathappenstotellastoryofonesmallunitandtheirexperiencesinIraq.Themovie'sfocusisonthesoldiersandhowthewaraffectsthem,ratherthanthepoliticsbehindtheconflict.Itshowsushoweverydeath,everyinjury,everyattackaffectsthem,andhowtheytrytocopewithitintheirownway.
Inconclusion,TheHurtLockerisagripping,intensemoviethatexplorestheemotionaltollofwar.Itdoesanexcellentjobofportrayingthefearanddangerofbombdisposal,whilealsogivingtheviewerinsightsintothesoldiers'mindsets.It'samoviethatshowsthetruecostofwar,withoutresortingtopoliticsortryingtogiveagrandiosemessage.It'samust-seeforanyoneinterestedinwarmoviesorfilmsthattackletoughsubjectmatter.
