Based on the firsthand experiences of freelance journalist Mark Boal, who spent two weeks with a US bomb squad in Iraq in 2004, The Hurt Locker delivers a riveting portrayal of an Explosive Ordnance Disposal team and their psychological struggles amid the life-threatening perils of the Iraq War. The movie delves deep into the mental toll taken on the soldiers as they face the relentless onslaught of insurgent attacks during intense combat scenarios. Sweeping the 2009 Academy Awards, The Hurt Locker secured a commendable nine nominations and bagged six wins, including top honours for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay.
History was made when director Kathryn Bigelow became the first woman to clinch an Oscar for directing and for directing a film that won Best Picture. Lauded by film pundits far and wide, this war epic stood out as 2009’s second most critically acclaimed motion picture with its exceptional direction, striking cinematography, and Jeremy Renner’s acting being the subjects of high praise, reports The Mirror.
With lesser-known actors taking the lead roles, the casting choices prompted Time magazine’s Richard Corliss to equate Renner with a “young Russell Crowe”.
He elaborated: “He’s ordinary, pudgy-faced, quiet, and at first seems to lack the screen charisma to carry a film.”
But any such doubts swiftly dissipated, as Corliss witnessed Renner emulating the formidable prowess, assurance and mercurial nature reminiscent of a young Russell Crowe. He extolled both the conflation of actor and role, and the compelling nature of the feature saying, “That supposition vanishes in a few minutes, as Renner slowly reveals the strength, confidence and unpredictability of a young Russell Crowe. The merging of actor and character is one of the big things to love about this movie…”
The widely-respected review-collection site Rotten Tomatoes has awarded The Hurt Locker an impressive approval score of 96%, based on a total of 287 reviews.
The website describes the film as: “A well-acted, intensely shot, action filled war epic, Kathryn Bigelow’s The Hurt Locker is thus far the best of the recent dramatizations of the Iraq War.”
With more than 50,000 ratings contributing to a popcornmeter reading of 84%, and a solid IMDb score of 7.5/10, the film’s popularity is evident.
Where can I watch The Hurt Locker?
You can rent The Hurt Locker on Amazon Prime for £3.49, or purchase it for £4.99 if you’re keen to add it to your permanent collection.
Should you prefer Apple’s offering, you may buy the film for £7.99 via Apple TV. The Sky Store also provides a rental option priced at £3.49.
For those with a Studiocanal Presents subscription accessible through Amazon Prime or Apple TV, you’re in luck – you can enjoy The Hurt Locker at no additional cost.