Post by unanimous on Feb 28, 2010 10:37:59 GMT 3
Lemme just get my flak jacket first before i proceed - coz really i do not get the hype that this movie is generating.
apparently this is a story adapted from a book written by a reporter who hang out with a bomb squad unit in iraq. that in itself is already an exciting premise, i mean it's a bomb squad for cripessakes. going out to detonate bombs sure is like playing russian roulette with your life. so sure it's a rich potential source of drama and adrenaline.
we saw the movie last month - it wasnt bad but it wasnt that great either. let me list the plus points about this movie for me:
1. it's the first movie about a bomb squad unit in iraq. at least the first one i've seen. +10
2. it's the only movie about the war in iraq that isnt too much in your face about the political aspect of the war, but more of the personal effect of the war on this particular group of soldiers. +10
3. it's not a physical torture porn...i mean by Saw standards or Midnight meat train. A guy strapped with bomb did explode but no flying severe digits that i had noticed at least. +5
4. for once, the director of a movie about iraq war did not try to wax eloquence about the 'villains' nor used the usual cliches and carricatures of those villains. if anything, it captured that feeling of you don't really know who your enemies are there, does not get on its soap box and dictate to you who should be who doing what. it's a refreshingly american movie that is not judgemental and just relates a story. +20
5. the characters are ok, the actors are decent, the main character is 'crazy', gets his rocks off by gambling with his life. some women like shoes, this guy likes detonating bombs and has the nonchalance of tom seizemore's character from Blackhawk down. +3
6. there's actually a little action in this movie, at least more than jar head - suspense, but not as asskicking as say....the kingdom. But that scene where he pulled out a web of bombs...that's pretty kewl. But hey, this isnt supposed to be your usual action film anyway, so for its genre, it's pretty decent.
7. It has kewl cameos. Guy Pearce blew up, Ralph Fiennes shot....ohh im sorry, was that a spoiler for you!?! +10
BUT THAT'S IT.
So what's the fuss about? Is it because it is this kind of movie and it is directed by a woman? What? people are so sexist and did not expect a woman to be a decent director in this type of film other than romcoms?!? the foot!
Is oscar trying to generate extra buzz for ratings coz it's going to be James Cameron: major box office earner goliath, commercial, mainstream, a guy VERSUS Kathryn Bigelow, woman, under the radar and cameron's ex-wife? It must make Bigelow cringe every time ex-wife is thrown next to her name during this oscar campaign. (i know low blow but hey....)
She directed this film well and it's a decent movie but if this movie wins best picture over more interesting films like.....serious man or inglorious basterds or district 9 or precious or ..even avatar, that's just weird. i mean even though avatar's story is cheesy and crap, to pull off that visual representation of that imagined world is not something to scoff at, it's not just special effects per se, you can actually seat through the entire movie.
ok, so now that ive pulled your expectations of the hurt locker's back to earth, go watch and enjoy it.
*image from impawards.com.....phew. remember when most stuff online were freely reproducible?*
