It's not lightly that I criticize this Oscar winner for Best Picture. But, I do.
In general, "The Hurt Locker" is a visually stunning film that looks at a different aspect of war than we're used to seeing. I don't feel like the general story arc or the message are much different from other modern war films, but this one looks good and its scenes are interesting and disorienting enough to warrant attention. Much of it feels real, much of it feels heavy and it shows a moderately skilled hand at crafting tension.
Which may be why the end of this film is so unforgivable. Change the soundtrack and it would only be disappointing. Edit the sound so the last line in the film is audible (which it's not, even after playing it four times), and it would only be typical. Don't do any of this, and you have a film that doesn't know what it's spent 125 minutes saying. That wants to make sure the pubescent masculine demographic still tell their friends that "this movie is freaking awesome!" That is more about ducking out the side door, leaving the story standing, as it were, in a cold breeze in its underthings, than was "Lost in Translation."
To be perfectly clear, I'm not arguing against what happens at the end. With the proper treatment, this is the conclusion to the film that says the most. And it's a striking example of the power of music and attitude in cinema, the way this conclusion - the correct and proper conclusion - can nearly ruin the movie when given the absolute worst treatment possible.
This film is worth watching to anyone who hasn't been there. It's worth it for the reminder that there are things happening that we can never understand. Just, for goodness' sake, hit stop immediately after you see the protagonist mumble inaudibly to his child.
5/10
In general, "The Hurt Locker" is a visually stunning film that looks at a different aspect of war than we're used to seeing. I don't feel like the general story arc or the message are much different from other modern war films, but this one looks good and its scenes are interesting and disorienting enough to warrant attention. Much of it feels real, much of it feels heavy and it shows a moderately skilled hand at crafting tension.
Which may be why the end of this film is so unforgivable. Change the soundtrack and it would only be disappointing. Edit the sound so the last line in the film is audible (which it's not, even after playing it four times), and it would only be typical. Don't do any of this, and you have a film that doesn't know what it's spent 125 minutes saying. That wants to make sure the pubescent masculine demographic still tell their friends that "this movie is freaking awesome!" That is more about ducking out the side door, leaving the story standing, as it were, in a cold breeze in its underthings, than was "Lost in Translation."
To be perfectly clear, I'm not arguing against what happens at the end. With the proper treatment, this is the conclusion to the film that says the most. And it's a striking example of the power of music and attitude in cinema, the way this conclusion - the correct and proper conclusion - can nearly ruin the movie when given the absolute worst treatment possible.
This film is worth watching to anyone who hasn't been there. It's worth it for the reminder that there are things happening that we can never understand. Just, for goodness' sake, hit stop immediately after you see the protagonist mumble inaudibly to his child.
5/10
