I don't know, my attention span hasn't been, for the last couple of months, long enough to calmly sit through any one movie. That said, Kathryn Bigelow's newest movie is a solid one. Just like one would expect.
As I mentioned, I must admit that I probably interrupted the movie way too many times as to enjoy it 100%. Maybe that's the reason I've been watching solely crappy action movies in recent times; they don't require as much attention. Although the two-hour runtime goes by fairly quickly because of all the back-to-back action-sequences, somehow it didn't grip me like Bigelow's previous movie, "K-19: The Widowmaker". That one impressed me so much, it was one of the reasons I yearned to see "The Hurt Locker". On the plus side, the movie appears extremely realistic, and I liked the camera work — the more action, the steadier the camera, the less action (but more emotional turmoil), the broader the movements. Like in the shower scene, right after Eldridge gets shot: It's as if during the military-action scene, where discipline and rigor trump, a straight and clear camera work is king. But in the soldier's personal time and in their private spaces, when emotions are allowed to break the surface, also the camera is looser, easier, more mobile.
I didn't recognize Evangeline Lilly the first time she appeared; so I was pleasantly surprised when she appeared in the final scenes (even if her role is rather short). I must say, I greatly appreciated those final scenes and the ending in particular. I truly loved the cereal-scene! What a great crescendo for the ending!
As I said, Bigelow doesn't fail to deliver. A good, solid movie.
And as a last note: How come there are so few famous female directors? I mean, right now, besides Bigelow herself, I can only think of Sofia Coppola. Maybe Asia Argento (although her movies aren't by far as famous)? Who else?
