Almost two decades after it captivated audiences with an unpredictable glimpse into the realities of modern war, Jeremy Renner‘s 2008 war thriller has landed on a new streaming platform. Featuring the MCU actor in one of his best performances, the 130-minute thriller didn’t follow the conventions of the genre by putting the viewers in the midst of the conflict. Instead, the inherent tension of war was achieved by exploring a different side of it, one that is fought in absolute silence, as any wrong move could mean the difference between life and death.
‘The Hurt Locker’ Is a Classic Critics’ Favorite
In The Hurt Locker, Staff Sergeant William James (Renner in his breakthrough role) is forced to lead a U.S. Army bomb disposal unit in Baghdad during the Iraq War. As dangerous as the job sounds, James approaches every mission with recklessness, keeping his teammates on edge. Eventually, the constant tension and proximity to death take a toll on the team, especially James, who becomes increasingly consumed by the adrenaline rush of this side of war.
The Hurt Locker grossed almost $50 million against a $15 million production budget, which technically made it a box office hit. However, when it won Best Picture at the Academy Awards the following year, it became the lowest-grossing film domestically to win the coveted award. It was nominated for a total of nine Oscars, and also won Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Film Editing, Best Sound Editing, and Best Sound Mixing.
The film was also well received by critics, with many – including the renowned Roger Ebert – calling it the best movie of the year. Today, The Hurt Locker holds a 96% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes and remains Certified Fresh.
Forget ‘Lioness,’ This Is Military Action Done Right
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Summit Entertainment -
Summit Entertainment -
Summit Entertainment
Though audiences today might be more familiar with shows like Lioness, The Hurt Locker offers a very different take on military action. Bigelow’s direction is outstanding at striking a balance between the drama inherent to well-drawn characters and the tension that comes with the film’s signature set pieces. It’s no wonder that Bigelow, best known for her work on Strange Days and Near Dark, was the recipient of the Academy Award for Best Director. While some predicted that James Cameron would win for his work in Avatar, Bigelow ultimately made history that night.
Naturally, if there’s a movie about a unit specialized in defusing bombs, one would expect to see some action. The Hurt Locker has plenty of that, but these scenes mostly focus on the psychological side of combat. Jeremy Renner’s brilliant interpretation of the character (he was nominated for Best Actor) is a major reason why The Hurt Locker feels so realistic, even if it doesn’t show as much of the battlefield as other war films do.
For those looking to revisit the Best Picture winner, it’s now available to stream for free. As part of the November update, The Hurt Locker has been added to Pluto TV’s streaming library, alongside other titles like Snatch, The Taking of Pelham 123, and Courage Under Fire.
