Hurt Locker explores an aspect of war that often receives less attention: it’s addictive qualities. The film opens with a quote reading “The rush of battle is often a potent and lethal addiction, for war is a drug.” This is an important element to keep in mind as you watch the film. It reaches to cover many sectors of life, including family, death, and dreams. The addiction theme stands as a constant throughout the movie, threading into each of the other conflicts presented. Several of the conversations between the team members mirror those of addicts. In fact, the entire movie is like experiencing a convincing argument from an addict defending their compulsion. By the film’s conclusion you are manipulated into empathizing with the compulsion for war. As meticulously made as this movie was, it lacked a certain amount of soul. I still think Inglourious Basterds should have won Best Picture.