"War is a Drug" The Hurt Locker, In Review

"War is a Drug", at least according to the main character Staff Sergeant James, played by Jeremy Renner in Kathryn Bigelow's Iraq war set character study, The Hurt Locker, also starring Anthony Mackie, Brian Geraghty and Christian Camargo along with cameos from Guy Pierce, David Morse and Ralph Feinnes.

Told as an exquisite representation of the Soldier's experience, rather than political drama or morality tale, The Hurt Locker succeeds where most Iraq war themed films don't. Showing for the first time, the point of view of the soldiers rather than trying to make some grandiose statement about how politics have influenced every facet of the war, and certainly without manipulating the audience.

Set in Iraq in 2004, Locker takes an intense, edge of your seat look at soldiers who may just have the toughest job in Iraq: Disarming bombs and explosives in a land forever in combat. When their first squad leader is killed on the job, Bravo company's bomb squad is taken over Sargent James, a potentially crazy rogue soldier who shocks his team with his brazen disregard for his own safety and their own. As the disposal unit desperately trys to control their new team leader while disarming bombs, the city explodes with combat leading the three men on a journey that will ultimately change them forever, or will it?

Perhaps most shocking about The Hurt Locker is it's helmer, veteran director Kathryn Bigelow who was last seen a few years ago with the release of the horrendous K19: The Widow Maker. Exploding back on to the film scene like one of the bombs her characters deal with on a daily basis, Bigelow has crafted perhaps the best film set within the current Iraq War filling the screen with breathtaking images along with white knuckled tension, making for a future classic.
The direction is sublime, as is the cinematography, editing and sound design, all of which were top notch efforts.

However, the film best succeeds with it's performances, uniformly great with two standout actors who may be looking at Awards contention come next February. In his first "big" leading man role, Jeremy Renner dominates the screen giving one of the year's best male performances. Radiating attitude, confidence and danger, Renner captivates the audience creating in Sargent James a character who is at one instance a wild danger, death and war junkie, the next a relatable human being that you can sympathize with though it can be a bit of a stretch.

Also shining, in a supporting role, is Anthony Mackie as Sanborn an war weary cautious, by the book soldier who is forced to trust his team leader, even if his renegade ways do not mesh with his style. Mackie devastates in a role that in the wrong hands couldn't have been more annoying, giving Sanborn a tragic arc that was extremely well handled. Other good performances came from Brian Gerghty, an increasingly talented character actor, as Eldridge, Christian Camargo as Eldridge's sort of counselor, and Ralph Feinnes as a terrorist hunter in the film's best cameo.

The Hurt Locker is definitely a film to see, and I personally cannot wait to see what Ms. Bigelow brings us next.

Grade: B+

Oscar Potential: Pic., Dir., Actor, Sup. Actor, Screenplay, Cinematography, Editing, Sound

On the cold stone scale: Gotta have it

Sorry for the Inactivity...

but i have not seen any new films since Half Blood Prince and with Funny People, (500) Days of Summer, The Hurt Locker and much more coming soon, things will be heating up in the coming weeks. Also, check out the polls and vote on the Oscar Hut's First Half of the Year Awards, then on August 3rd I will present the reader and editor's choice for the awards, so enjoy

How Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince Reinvigorated my love for the series and fantasy cinema

Like many others of my generation who were around and able to read the Harry Potter books from whence they were first released, J.K. Rowling's series played a large role in my childhood maturation. In short, I loved the books having read each one, besides the 7t, at least 3 or 4 times. However, unfortunately as time wore on and I grew older, with each new release I became more and more disenchanted with the series both in book and film form. And with the release of films 4 and 5 I had officially fell out of love with the series.
All of this changed last night at a 9:10 showing of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.
I cannot recall ever enjoying a Harry Potter film this much, including The Prisoner of Azkaban. I just cannot explain the emotions that ran through me as I watched the movie. Despite possibly tampering with the first viewing experience by going with 6 Friends and my girlfriend, not the best way to see a film if you hate being distracted, I was instantly transported away back to Hogwarts and I was in bliss every moment.
First of all coming off a stylistically great, story lacking Order of the Phoenix two years ago, I was not expecting this movie to be as Good as it was. The cinematography by Bruce Delbono was excellent, using the same washed out color palettes of the last film to even better effect, and instantly had me connected to the aura of the screen if you will. The score was a fabulous depart from the familiar John Williams theme, and the Production/Costume design was the best of the series so far. I could also throw in David Yates excellent sophomore effort to boot, here's hoping he's back for the next two.
One must also mention how amazing the special f/x were, especially during the Quidditch matches.
Techs aside, I also feel like this latest installment featured some of the series's best acting so far, with nearly everybody but Daniel Radcliffe on their A game. Despite, what I felt was a lack of performance from Radcliffe, almost every single cast member impressed me with how amazing they were.
Helena Bonham Carter, despite a smaller role, mesmerized in every scene she was present. Capturing an ominously crazed persona that served the film's darker tone quite well. Alan Rickman and Michael Gambon were as good as they have ever been, and the casting of Jim Broadbent was top notch, in a weaker year he would be a shoo in for a Supporting Actor nomination and who knows, he might just get one. Rupert Grint and Emma Watson's talents have grown considerably with their age, as has, most surprisingly for me, Tom Felton's who was marvelous as Draco Malfoy almost out of nowhere, having merely been an annoying presence in the past.
What it comes down to is this: Harry Potter and the half Blood Prince is the best film of the Potter series so far, combining style and substance for sublime results and it will be a surefire Oscar contender that could even break into the Best Picture category now that it has been expanded.

Short Takes on Public Enemies, Whatever Works, Bruno and An Education

Public Enemies is a troubling film for me, the cinematography, editing, production design and sound were phenominally well done, the acting from Depp is calculated and cold, you can see the gears working in his eyes yet he remained restrained which I quite liked. Bale was serviceable, much better than his work in Terminator Salvation, and Marion Cottilard was phenominal, perfectly capturing Billie's nerves of steel and unrequited love for Dillinger. Mann is back, and I think that his next movie will send him over the top. I expect a few Oscar nods from this film that I wished was great, yet can only call it good.

While Whatever Works may only feel the need to be another Woody Allen comedy, I greatly enjoyed the wit and banter of the script and acting, which would have felt right at home had Allen made this in 1979 starring himself and Mariel Hemingway. Larry David is definitely good, giving a promising performance that could, if he so chooses, lead to an acting career of Alan Arkin, Alan Alda type roles. Evan Rachel Wood is charming enough, but it's Patricia Clarkson who steals the show giving perhaps the funnest ( I know it's not a word) performance I've ever seen her in, and if this year turns out weak for supporting actresses, she could reap an Oscar nomination.

Bruno, was hands down one of the funniest movies I have seen this year. There were no boring patches of nothing going on and the laughter of the audience drowned out many potential jokes.
Despite the low ratings it has recieved compared to Borat, Bruno features an excellent turn from Sacha Baron Coen who is just fucking hilarious to the point of no return. I give him props for having the cajones to go to the middle east and not only acting flamboyantly gay, but insulting a known terrorist in his own home. If anything, you'd be hard pressed to find a movie like it this year.

And finally, An Education. Having just seen it last night, I can't say I'm fully prepared to speak on it, I promise that in the coming weeks a full review will follow, but I can say that it is hands down the best movie I have seen so far this year. The directing is great, the tech aspects sublime and boasts a fantastic adapted screenplay. But nothing had me revelling more than the revelation that is Carey Mulligans performance. She captivates the screen, giving a heartfelt, awkward, funny and emotional performance that stands head and shoulders above any other actress this year. To say that she will get an Oscar nod is not saying enough. I am saying right here and now that Carey Mulligan will be this year's Best Actress winner, she is that great. Other wonderful performances come from Alfred Molina as her worried father, Rosamund Pike as a trophy girlfriend, and Peter Sarsgaard as the older man that seduces Mulligan. Other great turns come from Dominic Cooper and Emma Thompson in a smaller role.
Best movie ive seen of the year, and on a list of ten, a surefire Best Picture nominee.

One a Week: The Puffy Chair

An earlier product of the mumblecore movement, The Duplass Brother's The Puffy Chair is a refreshing, original take on the indie road trip movie genre, succeeding at being both a romantic comedy and a buddy movie as well as a dramady all at once.

Released in 2006, The Puffy Chair tells the story of a young couple played by writer Mark Duplass and Kathryn Aselton whose romance

isn't always a garden of roses. Constantly transitioning from lovely moments of bliss to annoyance with each other to huge arguments, the film at once sets up an ominous cloud that covers the story leaving the viewer to speculate their future. As the couple sets off on a road trip to pick up a present for Mark's father's birthday, the eponymous Puffy Chair, they encounter Mark's brother Rhett, who invites himself along for the ride, and a series of humorous events that pay off amazingly well due to the film's realistic approach.

If anything, The Puffy Chair is proof that you don't need money to make a great engaging comedy if you have good direction, a sharp intelligent script and actors who embrace the awkward realism and subtlety the film aims for.

The film's strongest aspect without a doubt is the acting. Despite the leads lack of experience or notoriety, Mark Duplass and Kathryn Aselton give great performances as the couple whose trip is crashed. As Josh, Mark Duplass captures the essence of a twenty something whose doubts and fear of commitment slowly destroy his relationship. Resorting to childish humor and baby talk as a defense mechanism, Duplass bravely embraces Josh's cowardice and repressed frustration. You can see in his eyes that he feels alone, the last sane man, despite the love he receives both his eccentric brother, another decent performance by Rhett Wilkins, and his girlfriend, played to great emotional bipolars by Kathryn Aselton.

In the end, The Puffy Chair is just a great movie, filled with great writing and direction from the Duplass brothers and acting that embraces realism while still being sharply intelligent and hilarious. It is a must see for any film lover.

The Oscar Hut Presents: One a Week!

A new feature here on The Hut will be a sort of rip off of Aint It Cool News' feature from Quint in which I will be watching a movie a week starting tommorow, based on random selection for the first week, after which I hope to recieve suggestions in the comment section below so enjoy the feature starting tommorow with mumblecore's The Duplass Brother's The Puffy Chair.