The Hurt Locker - AKA Where I spent most of High School Gym Class

Everyone take a deep breath. There are 2 new hosts of the ABC program At the Movies. The Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert show best known for the reviews being summed up with a simple "Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down". Once Siskel passed away, Ebert shifted through a catalog of replacements. That was until Richard Roper signed on. They worked together until Ebert's long time battle with cancer caused him to loose the use of his voice. Roper continued on with again a series of replacements. Roper finially decided not to renew his contract and At the Movies was on its last leg. It was being hosted by Ben Lyons and Ben Maniewicz. Together they mustered all the personality and verb of a bowl of pudding.

Well I am proud to announce that ABC has found replacements for Ben and Ben. AO Scott from the New York Times and Michael Phillips of The Chicago Tribune. Both co-hosted At the movies during the intermittent periods. Both are two of my favorite critics. I am finally excited to get up early on a Sunday morning (early for me) and enjoy one of my childhoods greatest pleasures.

So I decided that in honor of these two great film critics, I would rip apart one of their reviews. I also decided to challenge myself by picking a movie that overall, the three of us agreed on. Catherine Bigelow's The Hurt Locker.

The Hurt Locker is a wonderful film brimming with a pitch perfect ensemble cast. Its "star" is Jeremy Renner. However to call him the star is really to overlook the supporting cast that basically shares almost every scene with him. This cast is made up of Anthony Mackie, Brian Geraghty, Guy Pierce, and in a great but condensed role Evangeline Lilly. The Hurt Locker is the story of the final 30 active days of a bomb squad unit in Iraq. Their Leader (Renner) is somewhat of a adrenaline junkie/renegade.

In Michael Phillips review of the film he spends a great deal of ink comparing this Bigelow film to one of her previous films, Point Break. There is a comparison to be made between the two thrill seaking leads, but the similarities end there. Point Break is great for its camp value and that is about it. The Hurt Locker works on almost every level.

An adrenaline junkie no less strung out than the "Point Break" thrill-seekers, James (Renner) is spectacularly skillful. ~ Michael Phillips

AO makes a much better comparison to Renner's character in my opinion.

Jeremy Renner recalls Robert Duvall in Apocalypse Now. Both men have seen and survived so much that they project a dangerous aura of invincibility. ~ AO Scott

AO goes on to point out another breath of fresh air for war films. It's lack of structure. This is truly a slice-of-life picture. It just happens to be the life of some extraordinary people. From the very first frame until about 15 minutes you are dropped right in the middle of the desert. Then the final 15 minutes is a cota that not only works, but I can't think of a better way to end such a powerful picture.

The Hurt Locker is shot in a cinema verite, hand held style. But not the Colverfield/Blair Witch style. The camera actually works to make this a very personal film. Something a lot of DP's and directors attempt. Most with little success.

What neither critic spends a lot of time on is that The Hurt Locker is the least political war movie I have ever scene. It has no spin what so ever. You are never asked to judge the characters actions. It forces you to place yourself in their shoes. I love the portrayal of the natives in this film. They are not "evil terrorists", nor are they "bumbling comedic plot points" . They are people and the truth is you never know who is on your side or not, regardless of birth place.

The one thing you can count on is AO and Michael making At the Movies relevant again.