The Hurt Locker (2009)

The Hurt Locker (link to amazon)

Directed by Kathryn Bigelow
Viewed 3-27-10

What can I say? I'm disappointed. After all the awards hoopla, I was ready for a great movie. I could have been just as thrilled watching a pizza guy making deliveries, waiting and knowing that he might get mugged at any moment. I mean it's neat to see "Iraq" in a "realistic" portrayal, and I really got into the documentary style way this movie was shot. BUT, I think I missed the point of it all. This movie was a series of missions strung together, a countdown to the end of deployment, so much expectation...

Was there a plot? I never felt a connection to any of the characters. Some of the people I watched the movie with got lost in the details, and we had to pause it several times to explain. Most of the confusion was the military jargon. This movie is not for everyone. I'm sure someone out there thinks this movie is the best ever and it was made with them in mind, but I'm not that person.

Between Avatar and Hurt Locker, I think Precious was the best movie by far. I get more action and thrill watching my 11 year old play Modern Warfare 2.

Grade: I give this a D-.
Age: no nudity or sexual content, but everything else is well represented... R for a reason.

Brothers (2008)

Brothers (link to amazon)

Directed by Jim Sheridan
Viewed 3-25-10

Brothers has a nice set up, good secrets and a homefront dynamic. The characters seemed a bit dry and average... only Tobey Maguire's character, Captain Sam, really seems to evolve. The kids were excellent, and Natalie Portman is almost a believable mom. It was too bad the audience seemed to know everything and the characters knew nothing. This movie created great suspense, but left a lot of drama on the table. I feel so empty and unfulfilled.

This movie is called a thriller by IMDB.. I don't see it. I wanted there to be secrets from the homefrount... but no. I would have rather seen a horrific, bloody ending... but no. This film is basically safe and sterile in it's portrayal of PTSD, and how war can change a person. I had high expectations and this movie proved to be a huge waste of my time. Portman sure has a freaking awesome sad face=). With the exception of a couple of scenes, Gyllenhaal and Maguire once again proved to me that they are at best average actors. The kids stole this show, and the actors are Taylor Geare and Bailee Madison. I look for lots of good things from Bailee.

Grade: I give this a D+. It was disappointing, predictable, and lame. The pacing was nice. The amount of times that stuff that went unspoken, and I could easily fill in the blank... the screenwriter's rule of thumb "get out early"... kept this film from being an F. Did I mentions the kids?
Age: adult content, hardcore violence, and heavy language... R for a reason.