A film hailed as one of the finest contemporary war dramas, which many believe should have bagged the new Captain America star an Oscar, is now available on Amazon Prime.
The Hurt Locker, a powerful and influential movie upon its 2009 release, was a cinematic experience that left audiences stirred and caused quite a stir at that year’s Academy Awards. If you’ve yet to see this gripping film or fancy watching it again, it’s readily accessible for streaming as part of Amazon Prime’s vast library for subscribers. Even better, for those in the UK, it can be watched entirely free on ITVX.
Set in the second year of the Iraq War, the film follows Sergeant William James, portrayed by Jeremy Renner, who is assigned to train a bomb disposal team. However, his ideologies and reckless approach to the job lead to conflicts with his subordinates.
The Hurt Locker received nine Oscar nominations, including Best Actor for Renner, Best Screenplay, Best Picture and Best Director for Kathryn Bigelow. It scooped six of these awards, surprisingly beating James Cameron’s Avatar for the top honours.
However, notably absent from the nominations was Anthony Mackie for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Sergeant JT Sandborn, reports Surrey Live. This was despite the film receiving widespread critical acclaim, with both Renner and Mackie, who would later become co-stars in multiple Marvel blockbusters, earning equal praise. One critic raved: “Satisfying from the first frame to the last, The Hurt Locker ranks among the most accomplished contemporary war films.”
Another reviewer noted: “An important, intense, nail-biting experience – really quite unforgettable.” Mackie was deeply disappointed to miss out on an Oscar nomination, admitting to Men’s Health: “I put everything I had into that movie That little f**** (an Oscar) matters. We try and protect ourselves and say, ‘I’m doing the work for the work.’ But when that happened with Hurt Locker, it hurt. I had to take a year off.”
After taking time to focus on his family and restoring an old Mustang, Mackie returned to work determined to land a Marvel role. His pitch was straightforward: “I’m the black guy from The Hurt Locker. I would love to work with you guys.”
He eventually landed the role of Sam Wilson, aka The Falcon, who has since taken on the mantle of Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, currently facing off against Harrison Ford’s Red Hulk in A Brave New World. Despite the years ticking by, film buffs still hold Anthony Mackie’s work in The Hurt Locker close to their hearts. A viewer raved on Rotten Tomatoes, where it has an impressive 91% score, saying: “Stellar performances from Anthony Mackie and Jeremy Renner that solidifies their careers as amazing actors. Suspense you will not forget!”
Another chimed in with high praise: “The Hurt Locker is an emotionally powerful and tensely suspenseful war film that stands as one of the best of the 21st century. The acting all around is great, with Renner, Mackie, and Geraghty giving some of their best performances ever.”
A third admirer highlighted: “The action is this movie is done very well, and the scenes of suspense all keep you on the edge of your seat. Overall, a very entertaining film and one of the better war movies I’ve seen.”
The Hurt Locker is streaming on Amazon Prime and ITVX. Captain America: A Brave New World is in cinemas now.
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