Jeremy Renner, decked out in his bulky bomb-defusing gear in Kathryn Bigelow’s riveting new film, looks like nothing less than a machine from the future, and his frosty, all-business attitude seals the deal. The Hurt Locker is, quite simply, the action movie of the season: It’s an expert nailbiter about an elite squad of Baghdad-based professionals who deal with war exactly like most real-life troops do—as a job. Ace supporting player Anthony Mackie plays Ren ner’s sergeant; Guy Pearce and Ralph Fiennes costar. This is a more down-to-earth action flick than most, but if you want Michael Bayesque explosions, it’s got them, too.
