Clocking in with a 91% Metacritic rating, with a film that will surely become one of the best of the year, it is time to start taking Ms. Bigelow, and her moody, brilliant war film, seriously. We were already taking it seriously last year when it was pulled from the roster. Many films wouldn’t be able to withstand that bump in its release date; this one does. It might just turn out that Bigelow stands a chance at not just being nominated for director, but actually winning. It’s too soon to tell, of course, so this is all just gunsmoke in a sandstorm but hey, what else is there to do.
The Hurt Locker features, among other things, great ensemble work from its three leads, Jeremy Renner (steals the show), Anthony Mackie and Brian Geraghty. Other than Renner, who some of you might remember as Jeffrey Dahmer (thank god this role erases that memory), these are mostly no-names, working actors but not stars. Funnily enough, stars do make an appearance but in cameos – Ralph Fiennes, Guy Pearce…
The film is a slow burn. It is, by a long way, the best of Bigelow’s career. I’m writing a different piece on Bigelow so I’ll save my thoughts for that but it’s important to note how far she has come as an artist; sometimes getting panned repeatedly can lead to good stuff.
Finally, it’s ironic that Bigelow will be in direct competition with her ex-husband, Jim Cameron. She was married to Cameron during T2 when he began an affair with Linda Hamilton, whom he eventually had a child with, etc. Bigelow and Cameron both have major films out this year.
36 Responses for "Kathryn Bigelow Triumphs with Hurt Locker"
haha, its on, gooo Cameron
I enjoy this love for Hurt Locker
I thought Jeremy Renner was brilliant in it
Is this the first film of 2009 to break 90 on metacritic?
I don’t think I’m as over the moon about this movie as some people are. It was intense and I think the directing was good, but I didn’t love it. I liked it, but I didn’t love it.
Try this one on for size: Cameron wins best picture for avatar… Bigelow wins for director… I think with ten nominees…. your going to see a lot of spreading of love. Heres my others choices early on:
avatar-picture
bigelow-director
Johnny Depp-actor
Meryl Streep-actress
Matt Damon-supporting actor
MoNique-Supporting actress
my fingers are crossed for Amy Mann or Amy Adams to upset but from what I have seen MoNique is vurtuoso….comaparable to Jennifer Hudson…. a performance so strong it cant be ignored
Up-Animated
everything else will be split between Avatar, Nine, Hurt Locker, and Public Enemies!
No way in hell she’s going to win Best Director. If she gets nominated that’d be a huge upset. The Hurt Locker was great, but no shot. Sorry. Let’s not get carried away with the 10 Best Pictures nominees ordeal…there are still only 5 Director spots and I guarantee you Marshall, Eastwood, Cameron, Scorsese and Jackson will get nominated before Bigelow. I do give her props for doing a war piece, but not this year.
To be fair, Jason, let’s also not get carried away with the five-most-familiar-directors-are-locks ordeal either, ok? That’s how we ended up with Ron Howard over Christopher Nolan last year.
Can’t think of where else to post this, but where’s the love for “Moon”? At least Sam Rockwell’s performance(s) should be on the tracker, I think. Might be too small & sci-fi for Best Pic, even with 10 nominees. Just wondering why I’m seeing nothing about it on this site. Has a not too shabby 86% on Rotten Tomatoes
Can’t wait to see The Hurt Locker though – hope it’s as good as you guys say. Good to see Bigelow back in the game. Near Dark is vastly underrated and Point Break may be the greatest “guilty pleasure” film of all time.
While I would obviously LOVE for a woman to finally win Best Director, I’ll hope it would end up being someone a bit more consistent such as Coppola or Campion… but if the film is really that good then go Bigelow!
I mean, did anyone see Scorsese, the Coens, and Boyle as future Director winners back in 2004 or 2005?
read my Public Enemies review here…
http://www.tlands.blogspot.com
” I’ll hope it would end up being someone a bit more consistent such as Coppola or Campion”
Who whoa FUCK that. I’m sorry, no personal offense, but my bullshit detector went off. Sorry, fresh batteries.
To me, it would be totally awesome if Bigelow won. Sure Sofia Coppola is great and all, but look at her filmography. What difference is there between her works? All terrific (yes even her French Queen flick that people hated), but I wouldn’t consider them terribly contrasting if in a line-up.
Bigelow though…she proved that she could hang with the boys in their bullshit with horror (NEAR DARK), actioneers (POINT BREAK) and even female-starring action cinema (BLUE STEEL). Never saw STRANGE DAYS, but I know some who like it and call it “sci-fi/film noir.”
K-19 wasn’t bad, just forgettable…but still, a sub drama that was competently shot. So that’s what, 3-4 genres? count HURT LOCKER (war film), and thats 4-5 different genres.
So here is my question to you other Sofia fans: Could the seed of Francis Ford Coppola tackle that many different genres with a better-than-decent batting average? I know she makes more acceptable “sophisticated” arty fare, but could she helm an action film? You know, I don’t know, I really don’t.
Kathryn could though.
Also, POINT BREAK was the last time that Patrick Swayze was….Patrick Swayze. That’s bonus points.
The Hurt Locker is a great movie, but a little overrated at this point.
It should get at least another 10 to 15 reviews on Metacritic and probably another 100 on Rottentomatoes over the next few months.
I expect as more critics see it its averages will fall a bit.
@ScottG.
The actual tomatometer % is never really the greatest gauge to use. Look at the average score on Rottentomates (7.3/10 in Moon’s case) or Metacritic.com, which uses only quality based scores (64 in Moon’s case)
The Hurt Locker is a great film and I hope Bigelow gets nominated… I don’t see Renner as a candidate really, but I may be wrong on that… The main competition for this will may come from another feature on the war in Iraq: Greengrass’ Green Zone… If released this year, it can prevent The Hurt Locker from a BP nod, imo… I love Greengrass, but Bigelow becoming a Best Director nominee (or maybe even a winner, though that’s a longshot) is much more important to me right now…
Cannot wait to see this one.
I just hope the academy won’t award a woman director just because she is a woman. I’m saying this because the academy is used to staff like that. The hurt locker was good but not great. We’ve seen thousands times before the same thing with much more depth. Jarhead was much better in my opinion. But anyway i think the critics are overreacting just because is the first good movie this year by a woman director. I still have to see An education. But seriously what did you see hat we never seen before?
#7 “let’s also not get carried away with the five-most-familiar-directors-are-locks ordeal either, ok? That’s how we ended up with Ron Howard over Christopher Nolan last year.”
Thank you!
I mean, really, they shouldn`t turn into Emmy where the same shows and people get nominated every time while other shows and people, no matter how deserving, are ignored. There`s so much talent that deserves recognition which they don`t get just because they aren`t well-known (read: well-connected). So, yeah, lets not make BD race all about previous winners and nominees. Inject some fresh blood.
Jason, Bigelow has the best shot of ANYONE right now of getting a director nod. Cameron and Jackson are wild cards; Scorsese has been there before, Marshall – agreed, but one never knows. You are speaking about, guaranteeing, unknown things. Bigelow’s inclusion is a known thing right now and the only one.
Wasn’t Jeremy Renner nominated this year for an Independent Spirit Award for Best Actor (for this same movie)? Was this film released in 2008?
you’re right, Armando
This is a small movie, released in June, and produced by Summit Entertainment. Let’s not get your hopes up yet. That happened once. With Once.
“Bigelow’s inclusion is a known thing right now and the only one.”
Like TDK and Nolan last year?
“Like TDK and Nolan last year?”
Dominik, I know you’re teasing, but yes, exactly like Nolan last year. This time last year Nolan stood head and shoulders above any other director with proven potential to be nominated. Like Bigelow this year, nobody else even comes close — yet.
The fact that by the end of the year other directors came along with more clout and insidery networks of support does not negate the fact that Nolan was the only director by mid-year who’d shown us anything worth nominating. The same is true for Bigelow now.
#20 “This is a small movie, released in June, and produced by Summit Entertainment. ”
Ok, Summit being most famous for hitting the paydirt with Twilight doesn`t necessarily mean it cannot pull off a decent campaign for the movie. Granted, it isn`t one of major studios or major studio division, but I wouldn`t hold it against the movie`s chances either. They are yet to prove their worth and this is where they will likely spend Twilight money.
I think this was an excellent film, with great rhythm and excellent performance. Also, there’re a few diferences between “The Hurt Locker” and “the Dark Knight”:
-”The Dark Knight” is still a comic book (An underrated genre at AMPAS).
-”The Hurt Locker” is more a dramatic stuff and received excellent reviews.
-”The Hurt Locker” was raved since last year in Venice and Toronto.
-Interesting there’s an excellent year for female directors right now: Kathryn Bigelow, Jane Campion, Lone Scherfig, Mira Nair, Nancy Meyers, Norah Ephron, Julie Taymor and possible Niki Caro. For all those possibilities, I strongly believe than Campion and Bigelow have the best shot for being nominated (maybe Caro but we need to wait for the real release of the film). I can see An Education nominated for BP (More for the 10 places), but no BD. I trust in one person who saw it at Sundance and said “AE” is a good film but also is too lightenigh and girly (And again we have “Nine”) for AMPAS taste.
If the Academy won’t nominated unless one woman this year, they lose once again credibility…
Armando & Joschi, for the Spirit Awards:
“Eligible films must have either played one week in a commercial theater in 2008, or have been shown at one of the following six film festivals: the Los Angeles Film Festival, New Directors/New Films, New York, Sundance, Telluride, or Toronto”
The Hurt Locker played Toronto a week before the deadline of early submissions last year, but it didn’t have a theatrical run in the US until this year.
I know what you mean. I was confused as well. I kept thinking that perhaps Hunger and Gomorra would be considered this year for Oscar, but they both showed in 2008 in the US before being released wider this year.
But it does raise the question why it didn’t get nominated for more at last year’s Spirits (both Renner and Anthony Mackie were nominated) and what that means for the film this year at that ceremony. Though apparently according to The Spirit Awards website, a film can be resubmitted this year if it meets the requirements for this year even if it was submitted last year. That… well, you’re on your own on that one.
No surprises here. Bigelow is a genius (and, once more, putting aside the art of film, very gorgeous and attractive in the full glory of her 57 years old).
Few around the world are such gifted and talented and bright in shooting actions epics, making action movie a deep art, and kineticly exhilarating. Even whe she did what can degenarate in some artsy-smartsy middle brow stuff (“The Weight of Water”), due to the plot, she avoid that with elegance and a true sense of tragedy.
IMO, “The Hurt Locker” is at this moment, the best Iraqui War flick, alos including in this list, documentaries.
I wish someone kidnappes Michael Bay, tied the dude to a chair, and get Bigelow to teach him how to frame, how to edit, how to compose a shot, establishes a pure cinema mood.
Maybe then the fella know what he is doing next time when he turn on the camera.
Gracias tmoves.
“I wish someone kidnappes Michael Bay, tied the dude to a chair, and get Bigelow to teach him how to frame, how to edit, how to compose a shot, establishes a pure cinema mood.”
Very good Joao, I support your idea… I think Michael Bay should never direct a film never again.
“Though apparently according to The Spirit Awards website, a film can be resubmitted this year if it meets the requirements for this year even if it was submitted last year. That… well, you’re on your own on that one.”
yes, it’s possible. it happenned with “The Good Girl” (nominated fat 2003 and 2005) and “Me and You and Everyone We Know” (2005 and 2006)
I have just seen Stop-Loss… and I loved it!
First film I ever liked Ryan Phillipe in. In fact, I loved him in this movie.
And Channing. Oh Channing.
Back to topic. I loved Strange Days. Looking forward to this.
T.
“This time last year Nolan stood head and shoulders above any other director with proven potential to be nominated.”
He still stands head and shoulders above all of them (except Boyle) with his work last year.
People are going to look back and wonder what the bleep the Academy was thinking with Nolan. This guy has the best track record to start a career compared to *ALL* of his contemporary peers. Even Spielberg had an early bomb. Plus this guy is under 40. And writes the screenplays too. And it’s not just about the BD snub last year for TDK, he was snubbed in that same category with Memento after being nominated for a DGA.
Somebody needs to splash water on these guys and wake them up. The guilds all recognize the immense talent, but the Academy is out to lunch apparently.
@ Ryan: I got your point, but I don´t see “Hurt Locker” like a typical Academy-darling. I know I might be wrong but I predict it won´t get nominated for best picture (not even with ten nominees) or director.
Best Editing, probably…
And of course, you can triumph over me at the end of the year if I´m wrong!
No problem, Dominik. I see your point as well. Sometimes when I’m feeling defensive about a movie I admire, I get like this.
Oh MY! Mr Mongoose that’s quite an image.
We should be all very afraid!
Tufas.. Stop Loss was hard to watch and sit through.
Glad you mention Anthony Mackie for Best Supporting Actor for Hurt Locker! He did an amazing job playing the “straight guy” to Renner’s radical anti-hero.
For a film that isn’t a wide release in the summertime isn’t going to get recognized and we all know from years before that buzz in the summer means absolutely nothing. Ryan, I’m just saying, the Oscars loves rewarding their veterans and those are the 5 I think of right off the top of my head with them having big, anticipated films coming out. For Sasha to say that she is the most legitimate contender is like saying the best minor league team is going to win the World Series. No film has come out that has a clear cut chance to be an Oscar favorite and even though the Hurt Locker was good, it’s not a wide enough, she’s the only getting buzz and other war films are coming out this year. It’s so hard for big films that deserve it to get nominations for Oscars (TDK), what makes you believe she is going to get nominated? And don’t try to tie this with a reference to Crash, not the same example, and you hate Crash so much… kind of ridiculous.
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