War is realized here as the monstrous force its always been- jarring, unpredictable, unfavorable, high stress engagements.The danger is lent to the 2004 American military occupation in Iraq- and some natives will off themselves if it damages the American force. For the EOD squad (explosive ordinance disposal), the risk is elevated to dizzying heights. Characters are drawn realistically, without a tinge of obtrusive development or forced dialogue, amidst Kathryn Bigelow’s heroic, all-too-real direction. Her artistic effect is deliberate, ultra-focused…and in this movie, pretty much perfect. The cast serves the story, while the story serves the cast- neither is bigger than the other. BOTTOM LINE: The Hurt Locker is an award-worthy film on several fronts, where a majority of the suspense and storytelling cliches are canned, allowing it to 1-up the mere ‘which wire do I cut-’ type tension as a result.