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Cinemetal

MINISTRY IN BEST PICTURE WINNER THE HURT LOCKER

 Monday, March 8th, 2010 at 10:00am by

Anyone else relieved that Avatar didn’t win Best Picture last night? Not that the Oscars matter any more than any other award in the scheme of things, but, seriously. I’m over it with the blue cat people.

ANYWAY, the movie that did win, The Hurt Locker, is notable to metalheads primarily because the film implies that its protagonist, SSG William James (Best Actor nominee Jeremy Renner), is a metalhead – or, at least, a really big fan of Ministry. When the audience first meets James, he’s blasting “Khyber Pass” by Ministry, and two other Ministry songs, “(Fear) Is Big Business” and “Palestina,” are also used during the course of the movie.

Some may find this offensive – you could argue that metal is, once again, being used as short hand for “something’s seriously wrong with this dude,” as is the case in so many films – but here’s what I think is really interesting about it: some of the biggest criticisms against The Hurt Locker are that it is (allegedly, at least) apolitical; it doesn’t take a stance on the war in Iraq, it just portrays some of the soldiers fighting over there. But Ministry are anything BUT apolitical, and one listen to their music gives away their stance on the issue at hand. Did the filmmakers realize this when they selected that particular band’s music to be in the movie? It’s hard for me to believe it was just an arbitrary decision…

-AR

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  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Brendan-Snow/514886363 Brendan Snow

    I doubt it has much to do with the “something’s seriously wrong with this guy” factor, if you talk to guys in the military you’d be surprised at how many of them are actually metalheads. All that death and destruction in real life seems to fit in well I guess…

    • http://thenumberoftheblog.com/ groverXIII

      Yeah, but do they listen to real metal or shit like Five Finger Donkey Punch and Drowning Pool? It’s better than the Jonas Brothers, I guess…

      • RockOutWithMy…YouKnow

        Can’t forget about Cobalt. They’re badass, and their singer is a Marine(?). Well, definitely in one of the branches of the military.

        • Genial Gentile

          army

      • Hammer_Smashed_Hurtt

        And yes we listen to REAL Metal.

        Unfortunately most clowns you will meet will only blast ” Bodies” by DP, or whatever by Slipknot in the Gym and not even realize WTF they’re listening to.

    • Hammer_Smashed_Hurtt

      Wow. Stereotype much?

      I love my Neil Young, Bob Seger, and Paul Simon right next to Cannibal, Death, and Pantera.

  • Harold

    I think they know that if anyone looks into Ministry, they would see the political angle and message of the movie. I loved it.

  • http://vague-news.blogspot.com Clarky Cat

    The Gut Locker.

  • West Virginia

    i was in the marines, and a good bit of my buddies where metal heads. mostly all except those from the deep south or non anglo-saxon. if they wernt into metal before they where around it so much that they became fans of it. metal seemed the most fitting soundtrack for what we where doing

    • West Virginia

      and im glad hurt locker won and not avatar.

  • brian roach

    Agree with everyone, I think it was accurate cause a lot of soldiers are metal fans. Also, I really liked this movie because I think it WAS political, but without being preachy, I don’t think you can watch this movie and think ‘this is really what our young men and women should be doing with their service, get them out of that place!!!’ But it was a great film that depicted the military very well and i’m glad it won!

  • black_polaris237

    Good Avatar was awful. I just wish Inglorious Bastards won more than it did. That movie was awesome

    • http://thenumberoftheblog.com/ groverXIII

      Well, at least Christoph Waltz won for Basterds… he was quite deserving.

      • RockOutWithMy…YouKnow

        Waltz, Avatar for best effects, and from what I heard Mo’nique were the only sure things last night. I would have loved to see Basterds or D9 win best picture. I’m just happy Avatar, while INCREDIBLE visually in 3D stoned to the hilt, was a very unoriginal movie.
        I also would have loved to see Charlto Copley, Wikus from D9, nominated for best actor.

      • Hammer_Smashed_Hurtt

        AU’ REVOIIR SHOSHHANNA!

  • DemonicLemming

    The Hurt Locker is probably the second most-overrated movie of the year (behind Avatar). There were so many technical issues with Hurt Locker – from using the wrong style of uniform for the time the movie was set in, to various references to things (X360, Gears of War, youtube) that didn’t exist in 2004, to generally “meh” acting, no character development, unrealistic plot (and this is coming from guys I know who were over there), and a whole plethora of other shit.

    Seems like people who don’t actually know anything about the military, EOD, or the war in Iraq think this is a great movie (I saw some columnist claim it’s the best war movie made since 1957…evidently she’s never heard of Platoon, FMJ, Apocalypse Now, SPR, Thin Red Line, Band of Brothers, Patton, The Deer Hunter, Gettysburg, or a whole plethora of other very good war movies made between 1957 and now that far outclass The Hurt Locker), while people who have actually served and know what EOD, the military, and/or Iraq is like see it as a laughably poor film and are stymied as to why it’s getting so much credit.

    Yeah, long rant, but I’m tired of seeing such a shitty movie being praised as being something special. I honestly don’t see the music as even being worth mentioning – not to mention, one of the songs in question, Khyber Pass, didn’t even come out until 2006.

    • RockOutWithMy…YouKnow

      I was never in the military so I have no idea how accurate, or as your stating inaccurate this movie is. That said, not knowing left from right in regards to military technology, or dress or anything, I thought this was an excellent movie, and the acting was top notch.
      But, like I stated above, I was hoping for Basters or D9 to win.

      • DemonicLemming

        To me, it was more of a misguided parody of a military movie than anything else. There’s just so much shit in it that leaves one that knows anything about the military going, “Wait….wait, what?” DIdn’t really feel like the characters went anywhere, or that the actors played them with a whole lot of talent, but that’s really completely subjective.

        I personally wouldn’t have minded if IB had won best picture, but my choice (although I don’t know if it was nominated or not) would have been Up.

        • Genial Gentile

          There were certainly unrealistic and anachronistic elements to it, but I disagree about the acting being uninspired. I thought the acting and cinematography were actually pretty outstanding.

        • SourDeez

          I thought the Hurt Locker was a good movie. Not great, but exciting, and that’s all I give a shit about at a movie like the Hurt Locker anyway. From a filmmaking standpoint it was pretty good. I don’t care about accuracy, politics, or any of that shit. Oh, the guy has to deal with a suicide bomber? Everything might get blown to shit? Ok, this is suspenseful. I liked it that instead of trying to get us to sympathize with its characters, the movie focused almost exclusively on hair-raising situations. I don’t give a fuck about the historical accuracy of the music or videogames, unless it’s blatantly the wrong style of music or someone is using a cell phone in a movie that takes place in 1942. I don’t go to the movies for accuracy, I want exaggeration and drama. If I want to see real life, I’ll watch a documentary. Oh, and fuck Avatar in the shiny blue 3D asshole.

          • DemonicLemming

            That’s the thing – everything in the movie was blatantly wrong, from the uniforms to the plotline to the situations. It’s not just little things here and there.

      • Hammer_Smashed_Hurtt

        Well I can tell you this;

        EOD doesnt roll by themselves in a three man team.

        When called upon they take about 4 hours to get to where you (the unlucky SOB that comes across an IED, Mine Etc.)

        The cowboy bullshit that Renner’s character pulls will 90% of the time get yourself or your Teammates killed (which is the cardinal sin among all) IEOD guys are some of the most reserved, professional and technically proficient soldiers I have ever seen ( Besides guys in Group [S.F] And the ones I knew would balk at this shit.

        The only thing I will agree on is that yes, your average Soldier, Marine, Sailor, Airman will usually go see a movie like this for sheer entertainment value. Nothing more. In my humble opinion (and i like to think ive earned it) is that there has not been an accurate Movie portrayal of what is/has been going on Down range. The closest you will get is Probably Generation Kill. THe HBO Miniseries. Even that is pretty left field from the Book.

        If you want to learn about what goes on, watch some of the National Geographic & Discovery Channel Documentaries. Those are your best options.

        And finally as for Hurt locker being Apolitical or not? I personally dont give a shit. They probably couldve thrown Slayer, Pantera, Metallica or whatnot in there and it probably wouldnt have mase a difference.

        Oh and P.S Fuck every Hollywood piece of trash thatdid not give a standing ovation to the troops downrange when the Director (cant remember her name at the moment ) offered her thanks to everything they go through. its very rare that happens and i was pleasantly shocked. If you want to hate the Govt and George bush and call the Wars ‘ Unconstitutional’ fine by me, but dont hate the guys who are in the meat grinder.

        My 02.

        • DemonicLemming

          Yep, completely agree with you. Have a buddy was was in Baghdad as PSD for a little over a year and he did a couple missions with EOD guys, and I have a buddy over there now who works with the EOD guys occasionally. I know those guys sure as shit don’t want to have to suit up in their gear in 120* weather and go work on an IED that could very well have a cell phone detonator on it and a hajii waiting for him to sit down and start working on it. Hell, my PSD buddy hated having to roll with his body armour, and his was only about 35lbs compared to the, what, 80lbs of shit an EOD suit consists of?

          And I’m with you completely on the people who didn’t applaud the troops, or those who talk shit about them. People want to bitch about the politics behind the war, that’s fine, but trying to insult or denigrate the troops pounding dirt and sand over there, trying to fulfill their missions and get home safe? Fuck those people.

          Two best parts of that movie….guy lifting eight 155mm shells in one hand, and the Brit sniper getting killed at 800m and the EOD guy rolls over – in the exact spot where the Brit got killed – and zapping the raghead instantly.

          • Hammer_Smashed_Hurtt

            YESS!! I totally forgot about that. When Renner finds the daisy chained 155 rounds! I called instant bullshit on that. (For the un-informed a 155 round weighs close to 100lbs per, and he lifted like 7 of them with one hand.)

            Glad someone else agrees.

          • Waldo

            I have not seen this movie and don’t plan on it. I refuse due to the amount of inconsistentcies that I have heard of from my friends and here is another one i have just heard as you have stated above….. A guy lifts 8 155mm rounds in one arm? not possible…. I am in Field Artilery the lightest 155mm round out there is a 3 square and those wiegh around 80 some pounds, the 5 square which are a little more common are over 100 lbs. Not possible for anyone to do any such feat. This movie is a joke and deserves no awards except for being the lowest grossing movie to be in the oscars.

          • Waldo

            and so i retract my previous statement as someone just explained the scene to me. Still a bogus movie.

        • Waldo

          You are spot on my friend. Headed to selection this fall myself after deployment. Check out Two Weeks in Hell on the discovery channel March 15 or 17 i believe at 2000 eastern time.

          • Hammer_Smashed_Hurtt

            YESS!! I loved the part where the cadre were telling them to put their “Weakness” in their pockets while in the pit. Good luck Dude, Dont get broke and dont get peered out.!

    • West Virginia

      you know by law, in films they cant use exact replicas of our militarys uniforms?

      • Hammer_Smashed_Hurtt

        Dont you love it when service ribbons or whatnot are WAAAY fucked up. Or an officer is wearin Corporal rank or some dumbshit. Gotta love it.

      • DemonicLemming

        Huge difference in using ACUs before they were released, and using the correct uniform. A WW2 movie wouldn’t really look right if everyone was running around in tiger stripe camo, would it?

    • Drewtastic

      This is pretty much what I was going to say. Although I don’t know if I would say The Hurt Locker is a shitty movie, but it’s definitely overrated and not deserving of Best Picture. For a movie that is acclaimed for being so realistic, there sure seems to be a lot of inaccuracies and obvious anachronisms. And while I’m not going to act like I had any idea just how inaccurate it was while watching it, I can say that it seemed unrealistic and a bit Hollywood-ish to me. Honestly, out of the handful of movies I saw last year, I thought The Informant, Star Trek, Inglourious Basterds, Funny People, and Avatar were all better than Hurt Locker. And while I don’t know about Avatar winning best picture, I thought it was brilliantly directed and a huge step forward for movies and that James Cameron should have won best director.

  • Igottawocket

    Yes, I am overjoyed Pocahontus: Blue Version didn’t win best picture. Pile. Of. Shit. I haven’t seen the hurt locker but anything that beat avatar must be good.

    • cougar party

      Once all the hype dies down I believe we’ll look back at Avatar the same way we look back at Matrix: Revolutions. A bloated, CG, piece of shit movie that people are now embarassed to admit they actually liked a one point in time.

  • NoNameNoSlogan

    didn’t know Ministry’s music was in it…now I’ll have to check it out.

    • Discipleofthewatch

      I didn’t know either. I’m not much of a movie fanatic, although I did see Inglorious Basterds. I guess if it wins an award and has Ministry in it, I should watch it.

  • CtrlZ

    I saw HL, it was good, nothing too amazing, didn’t even remember ministry being in it hmm. District 9 should have won everything though, most original and fun movie i’ve seen in years.

  • Elpants

    The Hurt Locker sucked.

  • http://lordsofmetal.nl/index.php?lang=en Kavorka

    Criticisms aside….I thought The Hurt Locker kicked ass! one of me fav 2009 movies(along with Inglourious Basterds and District 9), also liked Ministry’s inclusion in the movie! And Avatar sucked huge donkey-balls, shit story, shit acting, shit action, shitty cliches all around….

    However, Inglourious Basterds should’ve won some oscars too(at least Christoph Waltz got one)

  • dread

    No one is mentioning the obvious fact that 2 of the 3 Ministry songs mention the Mideast and the third sounds like it’s referring to terrorism or psychological warfare. I doubt the producers were metal enough to have selected those songs for their deeper meanings, they probably just looked at tracklists on itunes until they found 3 songs they thought sounded good.

    • Genial Gentile

      If that is true about the songs’ themes, I would say it was 100% intentional. No one just arbitrarily “throws” music into a multi-million dollar budget movie.

  • Chief

    Anyone else notice that the film takes place in 2004, but he was listening to “Rio Grande Blood” which wasn’t released until 2006?

    hmmmm………

    • DemonicLemming

      Yeah, mentioned that earlier in my long rant about why the movie sucks ass.

  • justin bieber

    for the whole of Hurt Locker i was like “DONT DO THAT YOU CUNT” to the telly.

    crap film

  • jed

    You are a stupid bitch you think about shit to much. Take some time to realize it’s time to move out of your moms basement, metal need’s no defense from you. If a psyco want’s metal to be his sound of choice let it be, or let him choose the beatles. Psychos have rights to, and metal is not ment for soft hart’ed pussies like you. So suck a fuck and and keep crying