|
-
It
is possible that Kathryn Bigelow’s Iraq-war based film
The Hurt Locker evokes the old fashioned Hollywood studio
filmmaking perhaps with more assurance then any American film
released in the past decade. Long underrated as a gifted filmmaker,
lets hope this film earns Bigelow the recognition she so fully
deserves. Bigelow has made some fine films but with The Hurt
Locker she is at her artistic peak – particularly because
of the complete control she possesses over the filmmaking.
She places emphasis of aesthetics over politics or messages.
She finds the sensibilities few war films capture, notably
in honest characterization. Above all, this is the characters
of the film – not what they do in the face of battle
and pressure, but how they do it. It is this understanding
that considers Bigelow a modern Howard Hawks – a master
not only of narrative rhythm, but also of character and of
action, and most specifically a master of showing without
telling. Hawks and Bigelow have the awareness not to lose
sight of the narrative flow or of the characters. One of Bigelow’s
long occurring themes as filmmaker has been men placed in
the face of high-pressure situations. As Sergeant William
James, actor Jeremy Renner perfectly defines the essential
Hawksian hero who is at his best when doing his job. His courage
comes from a calm acceptance and understanding of fear and
pressure. It is how he does his job that will define whether
or not he lives or dies and this is where Bigelow’s interest
lies. It is the suggestive scene in which we observe William
away from severe duties (at home in the supermarket) that
we see him perplexed to make decisions. His place is in the
“kill zone” for as the films opening quotation observes:
“The rush of battle is often a lethal and potent addiction,
for war is a drug.” As a film The Hurt Locker is
a simply a flawless and original achievement in tense action
cinema. It is a full experience of senses both for its stillness
and its harrowingly intense ferocity. It is truly a joy to
see films like this still being made today.
-
|
