Top 100 Most Anticipated Films of 2009: #95. Hurt Locker

#95. Hurt Locker

Director: Kathryn Bigelow (Strange Days)
Writer(s): Mark Boal (he wrote the story for In the Valley of Elah)
Producers: Bigelow, Boal, Nicolas Chartier, Greg Shapiro
Distributor: Summit Entertainment

The Gist: If war is hell, why do so many men choose to fight? In an age when armies consist not of draftees but of volunteers, and men willingly thrust themselves into military action, sometimes the rush of battle is a potent and alluring attraction, even an addiction. When a new sergeant, James (Jeremy Renner), takes over a highly trained bomb disposal team amidst violent conflict, he surprises his two subordinates, Sanborn and Eldridge (Anthony Mackie and Brian Geraghty), by recklessly plunging them into a deadly game of urban combat. James behaves as if he’s indifferent to death. As the men struggle to control their wild new leader, the city explodes into chaos, and James’ true character reveals itself in a way that will change each man forever.

Fact: This won a total of 4 awards at last year’s Venice Film Festival. 

Why is it on the list?: Bigelow makes a comeback! Despite the fact that moviegoers might be fed up with military-based war flicks, this received great critical buzz from Fall film festivals such as TIFF and Venice making this a war torn tale worth considering. 

Release Date/Status?: Spring 2009.