The Hurt Locker details
| Formats: | 15 DVD, Blu-ray, LOVEFiLM Instant |
|---|---|
| Starring: | Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, Brian Geraghty, Guy Pearce, Ralph Fiennes, David Morse, Evangeline Lilly, Christian Camargo |
| Director: | Kathryn Bigelow |
| Genres: | Action/Adventure - Superheroes, Drama - Crime, Television, Thriller - Crime, General |
| Studio: | LIONS GATE HOME ENTERTAINMENT |
| Collections: | Action/Adventure, Based on a True Story, Best of 2010, Best of HD, Best of LOVEFiLM Instant, Best Picture Oscar Winners, Critic's Choice, HD Films |
| Title | Runtime | Certificate | |
|---|---|---|---|
The Hurt Locker |
2hrs 5 mins | 15 |
LOVEFiLM Instant Information
| Run time: | 2 hours 5 minutes |
|---|---|
| Rental release: | To be confirmed |
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LOVEFiLM Review
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By Tom Charity from LOVEFiLMCheck out our five star review of this gripping Iraq drama.
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Most helpful review
"If I'm gonna die, I want to die comfortable."
By Vivacia (28 reviews) from London , 18 Aug 2009[Highly rated reviewer]
Premiering at the 2008 Venice Film Festival, 'The Hurt Locker' received a ten minute standing ovation at the end of its screening. Subject to much critical praise, the film will finally reach British shores with its theatrical release in August 2009. Few films about the conflict in Iraq or Afghanistan have managed to capture the essence of what it means to be fighting in a country where anyone and everyone is a potential enemy, and the understandable stresses that places on the human mind and body. With a highly realistic aesthetic and almost non-stop tension 'The Hurt Locker' allows us mere mortals a glimpse of what it really means to fight for your country.
Opening with a regular day for an 'Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit' (bomb squad to you and me) the film starts as it means to go on with a very sudden and violent end for one of the team. Sergeant First Class William James (Jeremy Renner) is moved in to replace the lost soldier, and he is quick to prove to his fellow team members that he is a lot less concerned with his own safety then his predecessor. This is aptly shown when he suits up in the 'bomb suit' to investigate a suspected device personally rather than send in the bomb disposal robot first. Understandably his new colleagues aren't impressed, particularly Sergeant J.T. Sandborn (Anthony Mackie) who has trouble adjusting to a team leader who takes his earpiece out whenever the word “withdraw” is mentioned. The last member of the team, Specialist Owen Eldridge (Brian Geraghty), is also disturbed by the change in the team, but is too busy dealing with his own guilt over the death that brought James into their unit to really get worked up about him.
With the characters established the story takes us through a selection of the incidents the unit have to deal with during their rotation, not least of which is a sniper shoot out in the Iraqi desert, which is so painfully accurate it’s almost uncomfortable. Kathryn Bigelow (director of “Strange Days” and “Point Break” among others) amps up the tension in every scene of the conflict, keeping the audience not only on the edge of their seat but at times making them fall off it, and making you question if these highly likable characters are going to make it.
Excellent performances round out an almost perfect film, with believable dialogue and very naturalistic acting from not only the leads but the supporting cast and the extras, many of whom were genuine Iraqis living in Jordan, where the film was made. Combined with the camera work, that resembles embed journalist film rather than Hollywood shots, “The Hurt locker” amounts to a fantastic film experience, that still manages to not trivialise its subject matter, and will leave audiences wondering – “is it wrong that I don’t want this to end?”- Was this review helpful to you?
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All reviews
(1098)Disappointing after all the hype
By lizcam (8 reviews) , 17 May 2013[Highly rated reviewer]
Just watched this movie and although tense and gripping at times and top class acting, it didn't really do it for me, or my hubby. We both thought it lacked depth and was a bit of the same old same old. Got a bit bored with it as it just didn't flow very smoothly.- Was this review helpful to you?
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Only so many bombs can be diffused..
By Jaseyboy (4 reviews) , 17 May 2013Just another yankee documentry style film showing the trigger happy cowboys justify their cause. Politics aside, Kathryn Bigelow made a reasonable attempt at portraying the misery and tension these poor souls sign up for. There is some small touches which are nice but overall the characters lack any depth and have little onscreen impact. The film just falls shy of good, it would have been excellent had a little more violence and gore been utilised more effectively in line with the theme to really bring home the gritty nature of serving in Iraq.- Was this review helpful to you?
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True Grit
By a customer , 12 May 2013Hard hitting and tense - compulsive viewing, paints a very human picture of the struggles and personal cost of those caught up in Afghanistan. Gripping.- Was this review helpful to you?
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Well worth watching
By a customer , 05 Apr 2013Excellent film. Great attention to the fine details. Kept me on edge for most of the film. Jeremy Renner was excellent. The character he played made me ask myself why do they do the job again and again?- Was this review helpful to you?
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Tense drama
By Cortex (4 reviews) , 28 Mar 2013Exciting and tense film with great acting byJeremy Renner reflecting the bitter realities and psychology of men at war. Some of the images stay with you long after the film is over.- Was this review helpful to you?
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