Miners, what are you talking about?
Baghdad, in the middle of the Iraq War. Lt. James, a cynical and disillusioned man, leads the US Army’s best mine disposal unit. Their mission: to defuse bombs in civilian areas, risking their lives, while the local situation is still… explosive.
Minesweepers is available on Prime Video from April 1st.
The greatest painting of the chaos of war
With an exceptional cast (Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, Guy Pearce, Ralph Fiennes, Evangeline Lilly, etc.), Minesweepers draws its audience into the extreme reality of war.
Shot with near-documentary precision by director Kathryn Bigelow (At the Frontiers of Dawn, Point Break, Detroit), the gritty streets of Baghdad seem eerily calm despite the underlying conflict that threatens the lives of thousands of civilians at any moment. Filming this urban wandering gives the image a thick grain, almost grimy and dusty, mimicking the mixture of sand and sweat that obscures the soldiers’ vision.
To immerse the audience in the heart of the conflict, Kathryn Bigelow and her teams filmed each scene in 360° with multiple cameras on each side to capture every detail of the action. This excessive coverage of each event makes it possible to film every stage and get an overall vision that is clear and panicked, augmented by editing that is sometimes calm and tense, sometimes nervous and brutal.
The violence of the conflict was captured with unparalleled precision
“What really sets this conflict apart from previous conflicts is the prevalence of roadside bombsexplains the director while shooting the film. I hoped I could reproduce the chaos of those battlefields.“
Thus, explosions, which are at the heart of this modern and urban warfare, have been the subject of special attention. It was actually shot with a Phantom HD digital camera, which allows you to shoot no less than… 5,000 images per second! Although the vast majority of movies are still shot at 24 frames per second, this technology makes it possible to get very precise slow-motion shots and experience the devastating power of explosions in almost real conditions.
An avalanche of awards for an outstanding project
In no less than 9 categories represented at the Oscars, Minesweepers emerged as the big winner of the 82nd ceremony, far ahead of Certain Avatar but the favorites. Overall: Best Picture, Original Screenplay, Editing, Sound Mixing… But above all, the Oscar for Best Director goes to the brilliant Kathryn Bigelow, the first woman to win this award since the Academy was created. James Cameron, a big loser and the ex-husband of a famous film director, could only be proud!
Minesweepers is available on Prime Video.
Source: Allocine
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
