GO SEE THIS MOVIE!

Jeremy Renner in The Hurt Locker.

As written in the great Roger Ebert's website:

“The Hurt Locker” opens with a statement presented as fact: “War is a drug.” Not for everyone, of course. Most combat troops want to get it over with and go home. But the hero of this film, Staff Sgt. William James, who has a terrifyingly dangerous job, addresses it like a daily pleasure. Under enemy fire in Iraq, he defuses bombs.

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The Hurt Locker came out of nowhere and blew me away! This film was sparsely promoted, playing in only two movie houses in Philadelphia, which is surprising since it was so captivating - leaving me on the edge of my seat throughout.

This visually stunning portrayal of modern day war taking place in Bagdad in 2004, is clearly defined by its theme "war is a drug." Jeremy Renner does an amazing job portraying Staff Sgt. William James, a man addicted to his drug, which is his profession, defusing bombs for the Army.

Renner's performance is notable due to his right on the mark portrayal of a confident, masculine, seasoned war veteran - a war hero every American would be proud to have lead them into war. He successfully embodies this character, from the cocky moves he makes in tense situations to the playfulness he brings on base with his fellow soldiers.

Perhaps more important to the success of the film is the amazing cinematography and the brilliant story line. The film is written in a clear and concise manner providing a perfect blend of action and dialogue - which is how most enjoy watching a movie.

At one point there was an intense standoff with enemy snipers in the dessert. Flies were swarming around the eyes and mouths of the soldiers sporting intense facades. The camera intertwines visuals of the enemy through telescopes off the soldiers weapons and quickly cuts back to the intense stress written all over their faces - enduring the heat on the battle field for what seems to be hours.

Go and see The Hurt Locker on the big screen - you'll thank me later. It's getting a lot of Oscar buzz for best film and lead actor. I really do hope the movie and Renner are big winners on Oscar night!

kslaz rates this film 5 stars.

CHICAGO HAS NEWS ANCHOR DRAMA

As reported in the Chicago Tribune:

"Bob Sirott, long expected to take over Warner Saunders' 10 p.m. weeknight anchor chair on WMAQ-Ch. 5, instead is leaving the NBC-owned station three weeks after Saunders' retirement.

WMAQ will try other anchors such as Marion Brooks, Dick Johnson and Rob Stafford in Sirott's place, with Stafford, a former "Dateline NBC" correspondent, seen as having the inside track as a successor. Chemistry with Rosati, who was Saunders' 10 p.m. co-anchor for a dozen years and has her own multiyear contract, will be a major consideration. The station may also consider a solo-anchor format at 10 p.m., as CBS-owned WBBM-Ch. 2 has done recently with Rob Johnson."

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Just like high school students giving their classmates awards for the sweetest rack, best smile and biggest butt - Chicago's politics in the newsroom offers up soap opera style headlines you just can't help enjoying.


Living in Philadelphia makes it hard for me to follow Chicago's TV News drama. I do have to admit that the people who get these jobs are fun to watch, especially the reporters I have grown up watching night after night.

Chicago has had a wide array of amazing newscasters and commentators, a few of my favorites are: Ron Magers, Carol Marin, Rob Johnson, Mark Suppelsa and Roger Ebert.

Yes, I would admit that some of them get this adoration only because they're super cute and very masculine. But keep in mind that they also display how smart and articulate they are through their high profile jobs.

REMEMBER...when Carol Marin and Ron Magers - two of Chicago's best reporters - suddenly quit Channel 5 news because they hired Jerry Springer as a personality on their 10 pm newscast.

From a reporter being fired for bringing her kids to the home of someone she was interviewing (in swimsuit as the kids played in his pool) to a morning news anchor being blackmailed about his vicious coke habit - Chicago surely has all the drama a soap opera queen would enjoy!

FAREWELL: Bob Sirott, you will be missed by me, you are a true professional and will find another amazing gig soon enough! I miss you on PBS/Chicago Tonight!

NBC 5 NEWS...will now have some new dude from MSNBC take over. Weird move...if it weren't for Allison Rosati you wouldn't have a show anyone would watch. I'd go with a single host format featuring Allison Rosati, she would rock at the job!