War movies used to be about history. They used to be about the people who were effected. Then along came the 60's. That generation were more in touch with the political effects of war. Vietnam become a symbol for a poor government. Naturally, films followed suit. They became protests of political expression but were still about the people. In the current global state, war movies have become deformed versions of those landmarks. The real heart of what war movies represented was lost.
The Hurt Locker is the story of three IED (Incendiary Explosive Device) experts (Anthony Mackie, Brian Geraghty, Guy Pearce). Like any team, they are unique individuals trying to find a cohesive way to work together before their tour is up. Naturally, trouble arises with the addition of a new team leader named Will James (Jeremy Renner). Therein already lies an unbelievable amount of dramatic potential. Either they understand each other or they die. Either they learn to work as a team or they die. Either they get over their individual issues or they die. Kathryn Bigelow does an excellent job directing her actors and building the tension. In scenes where they're defusing a bomb, the film makes you less worried about the actual terrorist threat and more about the threat they pose to each other. All the while, Bigelow keeps the film a neutral look on war. Although it never focuses heavily on the civilian or terrorist lives, the film conveys their issues effectively in passing. It makes you angry at the terrorists but not outright hate them. It makes you frustrated with the civilians but sympathize with their situation. It makes you question the troops but feel their individual views on war, duty, and survival.
In a genre that has seemingly lost it's way since the beginning of the war on terror and conflict in the middle east, The Hurt Locker stands as an example of how to interpret the situation logically. This is easily an early leader as one of the best flicks this year. Boom goes the dynamite.
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