Powerful, focused, tough. You won't just be watching this film drive by from the comfort of theatre seats, you'll be sweaty and nervous, holding your breath, in the Humvee right alongside these American soldiers. Hurt Locker is the Iraq War's Black Hawk Down.

Director Kathryn Bigelow tangles a red-wire of tension beginning to end. The tension wraps around each of her characters, each of their missions, and often in between missions. In fact, mission is paramount, in this film where "Story" takes a backseat.

The picture is prefaced by the quote, "War is a drug." Certainly a central character's drive echoes this statement, but the film seems to have so much more to convey that I'd hesitate to call this the theme. At base level, Hurt Locker educates Stateside Americans (as well as international audiences) on the real day-to-day, emotion-to-emotion, life-changing experiences endured by American Soldiers seeing action in Iraq. We'll better understand their coping methods, better understand them upon return.

While film stays steadfastly soldier-centered, never making any direct political arguments for or against the war itself, there certainly seems to be a strong statement about the seriousness of PTSD.

Great acting, strong direction, and aside from a few questionable plausibility choices, the picture feels very real. The overall effect is quite powerful and moving.

-- Books by Author/Illustrator Ross Anthony --