Bigelow goes to Iraq

Back in my days as an extra, I had the pleasure to audition for director Kathryn Bigelow on the set of K:19 THE WIDOWMAKER for a speaking role opposite Harrison Ford. I beat out 20 Russians (the role called for a Russian accent) and made it to the final two with a fellow non-Russian. To my dismay, he nabbed the role, but when I saw the film in theatres, his line was nowhere to be find. Sucker. Anyway, I haven’t forgiven Bigelow for the snub and vowed to myself that I shall never write about her on this site, but this next project sounds quite good and also, time heals all wounds.

Bigelow’s next film is entitled THE HURT LOCKER, an Iraq war drama to star Jeremy Renner (28 WEEKS LATER), Brian Geraghty (JARHEAD) and Anthony Mackie. I loved Mackie in HALF-NELSON, and feel he’s come a long way from getting ripped apart by Slim Shady in 8 Mile’s climactic battle scene. On top of that hot young cast, Guy Pearce and Ralph Fiennes are slated for cameos.

The movie gives us inside look at combat in Iraq as it follows an elite Army Explosive Ordinance Disposal team as they navigate their way through bombs and snipers. It was written by Playboy journalist Mark Boal and was inspired by true events and recently declassified information. Bigelow has done some great action work before with films like POINT BREAK and STRANGE DAYS, but she doesn’t really have a discernible aesthetic. I picture this movie as sort of a cross between JARHEAD and BLACKHAWK DOWN and I’m hoping Bigelow won’t turn this thing into a generic war flick.