Amazon.com: The Hurt Locker: Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, Brian Geraghty, Guy Pearce: Amazon Instant Video

The Hurt Locker

When a new sergeant, James, takes over a highly trained bomb disposal team amidst violent conflict, he surprises his two subordinates, Sanborn and Eldridge by recklessly plunging them into a deadly game of urban combat. A movie that the NY Daily News says "deserves to stand as one of the ... defining films of the decade."

Starring: Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie
Directed by: Kathryn Bigelow
Runtime: 2 hours 11 minutes
Release year: 2009
Studio: Summit Entertainment

Play trailer

Synopsis: When a new sergeant, James, takes over a highly trained bomb disposal team amidst violent conflict, he surprises his two subordinates, Sanborn and Eldridge by recklessly plunging them into a deadly game of urban combat. A movie that the NY Daily News says "deserves to stand as one of the defining films of the decade."

Starring: Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie

Supporting actors: Brian Geraghty, Guy Pearce, Ralph Fiennes, David Morse, Evangeline Lilly, Christian Camargo, Suhail Aldabbach, Christopher Sayegh, Nabil Koni, Sam Spruell, Sam Redford, Feisal Sadoun, Barrie Rice, Imad Dadudi, Erin Gann, Justin Campbell, Malcolm Barrett, Kristoffer Ryan Winters, J.J. Kandel, Ryan Tramont

Directed by: Kathryn Bigelow

Genre: Drama, Thriller, War

Runtime: 2 hours 11 minutes

Captions and Subtitles: Details

Release year: 2009

Studio: Summit Entertainment

MPAA Rating: Rated R for war violence and language

ASIN: B0030MM68O

Rights & Requirements

Rental rights: 48 hour viewing period. Details

Purchase rights: Stream instantly and download to 2 locations. Details

Format: Amazon Instant Video (streaming online video and digital download)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

85 of 90 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Let's make a realistic movie about real life and see how many people watch it? June 26, 2012

By Steven S

Format:Blu-ray

Normally I feel this would be irrelevant but in this case I should point out I am a veteran. I should also point out many people tend to exaggerate their combat expertise and experience and just because you wore a uniform doesn't make you an expert on all things military. As I read these reviews I can't help but laugh. Sure, some movies tend to go way over the top in regards to what's realistic or even plausible but there is one caveat that all of the people who are lambasting the movie based on realism are failing to grasp. Realism doesn't sell; if I were to make a movie about the average day for an average soldier no one would watch it. So you say, what about these documentaries that do well financially following soldiers in war zones? Have you ever met anyone who ever acted one hundred percent natural and themselves when they know they are being filmed? I watched this movie and I think it was a very good, entertaining movie and that's what movies are supposed to do, ENTERTAIN. The difference between myself and some of the negative reviewers is that I'm not naive enough to watch a movie and think it is fact or that writers/directors don't take MASSIVE liberties with situations or their realistic nature; even "based on a true story" movies do this because if they were 100% fact and no fiction no one would watch because again, they would be very boring. I am smart enough to separate reality from Hollywood movie making and I don't need personal experiences to do this. For those of us that know Hollywood doesn't make realistic movies and don't think this is supposed to be a real life documentary (hello, it never billed itself as such) then I think they will thoroughly enjoy this movie.... Read more ›

3 Comments |

Was this review helpful to you?

Yes

90 of 113 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Another Iraq war Vet with the same complaints November 1, 2010

By Bryan

Format:Blu-ray

First off, I'm a captain in the US Army and I've done two deployments in Iraq. I won't beat a dead horse, it's been said enough by my fellow vets so I'll keep it as simple as possible.

What this movie gets right:
-The look and "feel" of Iraq

What this movie gets wrong:
-Numerous technical issues, uniforms, equipment

What this movie gets UNFORGIVABLY wrong:
-The portrayal of Soldiers as undisciplined cowboys
-one vehicle convoys
-white light flash lights in the dark (essentially walking around with a bullseye on you)
-splitting up to cover more ground (a.k.a. suicide)
-sneaking off the FOB alone (just ask the Soldier being held by the taliban what a great idea this is, seriously what was he thinking?)
-EOD doesn't disarm IEDs unless they have to, 99% are detonated in place usually by remote controlled robot, not a guy in a bomb suit

If you are a civilian and want to see a decent portrayal of what Baghdad looks like (the scenery and Iraqis I mean)then watch the movie, if you've been there I wouldn't waste your time with this movie. I thought HBO's mini series Generation KillGeneration Kill was much better, the Marines in Generation Kill weren't just a bunch of, as one reviewer said Hollwood cliches.

I apologize, this wasn't as short as I'd hoped, bottom line... watching this I felt somewhat honored by the film makers attempt to share the experience of a Soldier in Iraq, but at the same time insulted and angry at just how wrong and Hollywood-ized so much of it was.

Comment |

Was this review helpful to you?

Yes

47 of 60 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing, far fetched, and a tad aggravating January 12, 2010

By Mike Edelstein

Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase

I wanted to like this movie...I really, really did. I had seen and read alot of hype for it, rave reviews, and alot of talk of Oscars. After watching it however, I can't see why.

There have been alot of war movies over the years, but there has yet to be anything worthwhile watching for Iraq. This is not Platoon, the Dirty Dozen, the Battle of the Bulge, it isn't even Inglorious Basterds. True, other Iraq fair has fallen flat or just plain sucked. This wasn't as bad (Over There) and didn't have an idiotic and misguided political statement (Redacted...Marc Cuban burn in hell) but it wasn't all that good.

There's the typical military irregularities, such as uniforms (US flags are worn on the right shoulder of soldiers but in the movie they're either on both or none), equipment (magazines disappear and reappear between scenes, and the 6 wheeled APC used by US soldiers is in fact an APC used by the South Africans, not Americans) and overall impossible situations (a single vehicle by itself? REALLY?). These SERIOUSLY detract from the movie, so anyone not familiar with anything military get a somewhat twisted inaccurate view of operations in country.

The storyline overall really has no point, as all it is are daily missions, almost vignettes, of the EOD team's daily ops.

The last 15 minutes is the only thing that saves this movie and gives it a star. the acting, emotion and theme (I won't spoil it) would've made this an AMAZING movie, had it been a constant throughout. Sure, there's small snippets of emotion and feeling, but at times too brief to really feel it.

Yes, I can see this movie receiving some nominations, such as best actor for Jeremy Renner, but to win it I think is a bit much.... Read more ›

9 Comments |

Was this review helpful to you?

Yes

› See all 648 customer reviews (newest first)

Write a customer review

Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars So much better than Zero Dark Thirty

Why? Characterization. I cared about the characters. And I didn't have to have a poli-sci degree or a minor in Middle Eastern studies to understand what the flack (pun intended)... Read more

Published 1 day ago by Donna J. Kapap

4.0 out of 5 stars Review of The Hurt Locker

Great movie! Extremely suspensful, tautly directed and well acted. A not to often subject discussed( the addictive power of combat) handled very well

Published 3 days ago by Eric Leporati