Hurt Locker

This is a 2008 movie from Voltage Pictures (not released in the US until March of 2009, that's why its on the current round of awards) that, somehow, I hadn't really heard about until this weekend. This is a very good film worth all of the praise it has been receiving lately.

This is a story about an Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) unit in Iraq from the Army's Bravo Company who loses a team member, Sgt. Matt Thompson (Guy Pierce) when and IED detonates while the team is trying to dispose of it. Sgt. Thompson is replaced by SSgt. William James (Jeremy Renner) who REALLY enjoys his job. His style of getting the job done clashes with the two remaining members of the EOD unit, Sgt. JT Sanborn (Anthony Mackie) and Spc. Owen Eldridge (Brian Geraghty) who just want to survive there deployment. As they continue to work together the extent to which SSgt. James enjoys his job becomes more evident, and so do other parts of his personality. Spc. Eldridge and Sgt. Sanborn become more of a cohesive unit with SSgt. James until his need to get a rush gets them all into trouble.

This is a great film that causes people watching it to feel a sense of anxiety. The unfolding of the plot and the story both are slow at times but still leave you on the edge of your seat, wondering who the terrorist are and who the good guys are. You feel for the members of the EOD unit and the problems they are going through, feeling ups and disappointments with the characters.

This was truly one of the best films I have seen in a long time. It is very compelling and keeps you wrapped up in it. 4 out of 5 stars.