3/2/10

A very worthy nominee


Courtesy of IMDB: US Army Sergeant First Class Will James, Sergeant JT Sanborn and Specialist Owen Eldridge comprise the Bravo Company's bomb disposal unit currently stationed in Baghdad. James is the tech team leader.

When James arrives on the scene, Bravo Company has thirty-nine days left on its current deployment. It will be a long thirty-nine days for Sanborn and Eldridge whose styles do not mesh with their new leader. James is a renegade for who the thrill of the dismantlement seems to be the ultimate goal regardless of the safety of his fellow team members, others on the scene or himself.

On the other hand, Sanborn is by the books: he knows his place and duty and trusts others in the army to carry out theirs as well as he. And Eldridge is an insecure soldier who is constantly worried that an error or misjudgment on his part will lead to the death of an innocent civilian or a military colleague. While the three members face their own internal issues, they have to be aware of any person at the bomb sites, some of who may be bombers themselves.

The Hurt Locker is nominated for 9 Oscars, and has 68 award wins and 42 other nominations already in the bag! Do not be put off by the subject matter of this great movie, even you ladies. You all know I don't do gory or horrifying movies and this is neither, it's just a wonderful movie about our brave soldiers doing the most dangerous job in the world.

Although I haven't seen every movie based on the Iraq war, I strongly suspect this is the closest you'll get to being there on film. We were both enthralled by the daily drama they go through and the constant state of high alert and stress they live under. How the three main characters deal with their surroundings is very different, so how they work together as an effective unit is challenging to say the least.

The storyline is completely unpredictable, I was amazed when two Hollywood A-listers were killed within minutes of appearing, leaving lesser known actors to carry this movie. And carry it they do, with performances that make you feel like you're almost watching a documentary they're so real.

This movie will move you, and make even the most cynical anti-war protestor feel pride in our troops. It also makes us all better understand the risks our troops take for their country and the freedom of others daily. Everyone should see this movie.

4 comments:

Pat said...

Wow! This is an excellent write-up. I wrote it down on my "must see" list of movies.

Yogi♪♪♪ said...

I've had several people tell me that this is great. Maybe I can get Sweetie to read your review.

t i m said...

i loved the hurt locker & i'm hoping it'll win best picture although i've my suspicions it'll turn out to be avatar emrging victorious

Kay said...

Art watched it last night and said it was excellent but it's not my kind of movie. I'm not good with stressful movies. I'm weak. I still love Avatar.