Comments on: The Hurt Locker http://outlawvern.com/2009/07/28/the-hurt-locker/ Vern's writings on the films of cinema Sat, 11 Feb 2012 23:05:18 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: renfield http://outlawvern.com/2009/07/28/the-hurt-locker/#comment-2163881 renfield Sat, 21 Jan 2012 23:36:45 +0000 http://outlawvern.com/?p=5502#comment-2163881 The Hurt Locker and Michael Bay are on the opposite sides of the spectrum. The Michael Bay action formula is: the more you increase the amount of activity on screen, the more exciting the action is. The deal with The Hurt Locker is that it sets up these rules where any activity on screen is a really bad thing and needs to be avoided. Michael Bay has to create an even bigger explosion to milk more excitement but Kathryn Bigelow just has a cell phone start ringing. They do share one thing in common though. The actual meaning of the activity is mysterious. Is this ringing cellphone contributing towards shit escalating towards disaster or is it merely incidental? Similarly, the precise meaning and consequence of the various explosions and camera whirls in Michael Bay is opaque and unknowable to the viewer. The Hurt Locker, in my opinion, belongs to a discipline invented by THE WAGES OF FEAR. A French movie from the early 50's that is perhaps cinema's definitive suspense masterpiece, about desperate lowlifes tasked with driving trucks packed with nitroglycerin over treacherous mountain roads. Dig that it is precisely the same technique: any turbulence or abrupt temperature change will cause the nitro to vaporize these dudes, so almost nothing can happen during the action sequences if these guys are gonna live. It's also really crazy that it's a French film from the 50's but is 100% fully realized as far as the sets, visuals, etc. It has the authentic physicality of those old Herzog jungle pictures. I don't understand why so few movies get this magic formula. It is clearly the way to go vs. the Bay technique. The Hurt Locker and Michael Bay are on the opposite sides of the spectrum. The Michael Bay action formula is: the more you increase the amount of activity on screen, the more exciting the action is.

The deal with The Hurt Locker is that it sets up these rules where any activity on screen is a really bad thing and needs to be avoided. Michael Bay has to create an even bigger explosion to milk more excitement but Kathryn Bigelow just has a cell phone start ringing.

They do share one thing in common though. The actual meaning of the activity is mysterious. Is this ringing cellphone contributing towards shit escalating towards disaster or is it merely incidental? Similarly, the precise meaning and consequence of the various explosions and camera whirls in Michael Bay is opaque and unknowable to the viewer.

The Hurt Locker, in my opinion, belongs to a discipline invented by THE WAGES OF FEAR. A French movie from the early 50’s that is perhaps cinema’s definitive suspense masterpiece, about desperate lowlifes tasked with driving trucks packed with nitroglycerin over treacherous mountain roads. Dig that it is precisely the same technique: any turbulence or abrupt temperature change will cause the nitro to vaporize these dudes, so almost nothing can happen during the action sequences if these guys are gonna live.

It’s also really crazy that it’s a French film from the 50’s but is 100% fully realized as far as the sets, visuals, etc. It has the authentic physicality of those old Herzog jungle pictures.

I don’t understand why so few movies get this magic formula. It is clearly the way to go vs. the Bay technique.

]]> By: Outlaw Vern http://outlawvern.com/2009/07/28/the-hurt-locker/#comment-48844 Outlaw Vern Wed, 28 Jul 2010 05:17:40 +0000 http://outlawvern.com/?p=5502#comment-48844 I almost called it in this review, right? "I’m gonna go ahead and predict that they’ll give him one of the big comic book roles." I'm right about these things sometimes. Except I'm not sure Hawkman counts as one of the big comic book roles. I almost called it in this review, right? “I’m gonna go ahead and predict that they’ll give him one of the big comic book roles.” I’m right about these things sometimes. Except I’m not sure Hawkman counts as one of the big comic book roles.

]]> By: dieselboy http://outlawvern.com/2009/07/28/the-hurt-locker/#comment-48788 dieselboy Wed, 28 Jul 2010 01:03:44 +0000 http://outlawvern.com/?p=5502#comment-48788 Hey ole' Jeremy Renner was announced as Hawkeye at ComicCon during The Avengers panel. Good shit. But kicking Ed Norton out for Mark Ruffalo to play the Hulk? Not cool Marvel. Hey ole’ Jeremy Renner was announced as Hawkeye at ComicCon during The Avengers panel. Good shit.

But kicking Ed Norton out for Mark Ruffalo to play the Hulk? Not cool Marvel.

]]> By: RRA http://outlawvern.com/2009/07/28/the-hurt-locker/#comment-23165 RRA Wed, 03 Mar 2010 22:33:19 +0000 http://outlawvern.com/?p=5502#comment-23165 Mr. M - And Chuck Wepner called that bomb techie. He said to quit whining. Mr. M – And Chuck Wepner called that bomb techie. He said to quit whining.

]]> By: Mr. Majestyk http://outlawvern.com/2009/07/28/the-hurt-locker/#comment-23155 Mr. Majestyk Wed, 03 Mar 2010 21:50:09 +0000 http://outlawvern.com/?p=5502#comment-23155 Did you guys hear that one the real-life bomb squad techs with whom the screenwriter was embedded is suing the movie because he thinks they ripped off his whole personality? The part where his story falls apart is when he claims to have invented the title of the movie. Dude, I'm sure you're a bad motherfucker, but everybody knows the term "hurt locker" comes from TANGO & CASH. Did you guys hear that one the real-life bomb squad techs with whom the screenwriter was embedded is suing the movie because he thinks they ripped off his whole personality? The part where his story falls apart is when he claims to have invented the title of the movie. Dude, I’m sure you’re a bad motherfucker, but everybody knows the term “hurt locker” comes from TANGO & CASH.

]]> By: Brendan http://outlawvern.com/2009/07/28/the-hurt-locker/#comment-19032 Brendan Mon, 01 Feb 2010 06:02:05 +0000 http://outlawvern.com/?p=5502#comment-19032 Man, whether it's Basterds or Avatar or Locker, I'm cool with whichever one wins Best Picture. I'd like to see Bigelow win Director, the scene with the British unit alone should win it for her. Man, whether it’s Basterds or Avatar or Locker, I’m cool with whichever one wins Best Picture. I’d like to see Bigelow win Director, the scene with the British unit alone should win it for her.

]]> By: RRA http://outlawvern.com/2009/07/28/the-hurt-locker/#comment-19027 RRA Mon, 01 Feb 2010 05:39:43 +0000 http://outlawvern.com/?p=5502#comment-19027 Brendan - Yup, and Bigelow the other day won the DGA Award. Not just the first woman to win it*, but that fucker is usually a precursor of who will win the Director Oscar. That's right folks: The director of POINT BREAK may very well win the Oscar. *=I could so see her leave a taunting message on Sofia Coppola's answering machine. Brendan – Yup, and Bigelow the other day won the DGA Award. Not just the first woman to win it*, but that fucker is usually a precursor of who will win the Director Oscar.

That’s right folks: The director of POINT BREAK may very well win the Oscar.

*=I could so see her leave a taunting message on Sofia Coppola’s answering machine.

]]> By: Brendan http://outlawvern.com/2009/07/28/the-hurt-locker/#comment-19025 Brendan Mon, 01 Feb 2010 05:14:13 +0000 http://outlawvern.com/?p=5502#comment-19025 Just saw it. Fucking awesome. What's weird is I that while I was watching it, I had no idea that Ralph Fiennes and David Morse were in it, it wasn't until I looked at the back case I realized they were in it. Can't believe how good a movie this was. Just saw it. Fucking awesome. What’s weird is I that while I was watching it, I had no idea that Ralph Fiennes and David Morse were in it, it wasn’t until I looked at the back case I realized they were in it. Can’t believe how good a movie this was.

]]> By: CJ Holden http://outlawvern.com/2009/07/28/the-hurt-locker/#comment-15069 CJ Holden Tue, 29 Dec 2009 13:58:32 +0000 http://outlawvern.com/?p=5502#comment-15069 Rented it today on DVD. Watched only the opening scene of it so far, but let me tell you that it's even more intense, when all of a sudden some kids outside let off a firecracker in front of your house! Rented it today on DVD. Watched only the opening scene of it so far, but let me tell you that it’s even more intense, when all of a sudden some kids outside let off a firecracker in front of your house!

]]> By: dan http://outlawvern.com/2009/07/28/the-hurt-locker/#comment-4430 dan Wed, 12 Aug 2009 02:34:18 +0000 http://outlawvern.com/?p=5502#comment-4430 coincidentally just watched Near Dark again last week too. better than i remembered. besides the whole blood transfusion cop out, but you can't blame her for that shit. coincidentally just watched Near Dark again last week too. better than i remembered. besides the whole blood transfusion cop out, but you can’t blame her for that shit.

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