The Hurt Locker, which I guess refers to a minefield, is a cinematic fix for your adrenaline cravings. This is one of those rare movies that generates genuine thrills. It understands that the thrill is not in the explosion, rather, it is in those few seconds before the explosion. It is in the uncertainty. It is in the anticipation. The movie drags the audience into the hot-zone from scene one. You aren't just watching the bomb getting defused - you are in there ! sweating, throbbing and most-likely, praying.
HL proves that Kathryn Bigelow's flair for action-thrillers, first showcased in the cult-hit Point Break(1991), is only getting better with age. Her Best-Director Oscar is truly well-earned.
That being said, Oscar or no Oscar, Avatar is the best picure. Period. No matter what the Academy thinks, people know it for what it is. It isn't just a movie - it is an experience.
Pretty dumb guys at the Academy, huh? Well, what do you expect from the guys who liked Shakespeare in Love better than Saving Pvt. Ryan in 1998. But this time, I am not disappointed with their judgement. Sample this:
Case -1 : Avatar wins the Best-Pic Oscar
Consequences:
- Another laurel to Avatar which is already at the pinnacle of success
- Obscurity to HL
Case-2 : Avatar does not win the Oscar
Consequences:
- Not as-much-as a dent on Avatar's glory
- HL receives the recognition it deserves, plus, a valuable lesson taught to distributors
It is a crying shame that no major distributors wanted HL because of its low budget and supposedly-low commercial value. The movie is now going to enjoy a wider distribution thanks to its Best Picture Oscar.
Caution to viewers -
- HL is not a date-movie. In fact, I think its a guys-only movie.
- Are you a Transformers fan? Keep out and watch Power Rangers on Pogo.
And lastly, my ratings for the best of 2009 -
1. Avatar ... 9.5/10
2. Inglourious Basterds, District9 ... 8.5/10
3. Hurt Locker ... 8/10
(Haven't watched A Serious Man, Up in the Air yet)
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