For most of her career, KATHRYN BIGELOW has directed films with characters living straight on the razor’s edge of obsession (i.e. BLUE STEEL, POINT BREAK, STRANGE DAYS), and the result is quite watchable on a purely visceral level (she and TONY SCOTT are probably kindred creative spirits). And of course, with her past marriage to director JAMES CAMERON, one could assume that her affection for lean, mean testosterone driven subplots could be partly influenced by THE TERMINATOR director.  However, with her latest film, THE HURT LOCKER, Bigelow takes a baseball bat to her past and shatters all expectations. Riveting and gut wrenching, THE HURT LOCKER is that rare film that takes you on a visually and emotionally compelling journey and never lets go.  Staff Sergeant William James’(JEREMY RENNER) is the leader of an Army bomb squad unit (ANTHONY MACKIE and BRIAN GERAGHTY are his loyal but hesitant wingmen) in Iraq, circa 2004.  Instead of fearing for his life each and every second, James approaches each deadly bomb like a Rubik’s Cube or crossword puzzle, all the while relishing the fact that any wrong move could be his last. James is a thrill seeking addict, and unfortunately his playground is in Iraq, where IEDs and roadside bombs have killed many a good soldier. The movie was written by journalist Mark Boal, who was embedded in Iraq with a bomb squad, and the authentic feel and camaraderie among the unit can be party credited to his experience. MACKIE and GERAGHTY (as well as GUY PEARCE and RALPH FIENNES, who appear in cameo) all do an inspired job in the flick, but it is RENNER, most recently seen in ABC’s THE UNUSUALS, who gives one of the finest performances this year.  RENNER ably demonstrates the complexities that lies within James’ psyche, and expect his work in the film to be remembered come OSCAR nomination time.  As for BIGELOW, she has truly outdone herself. Armed with four handheld cameras, the lensing talents of cinematographer BARRY ACKROYD (he shot UNITED 93), BOAL’S tighter than a drum screenplay, and a talented cast, BIGELOW has crafted a stunning and absorbing tale of a man who realizes that journeying into the heart of darkness isn’t such a bad trip at all.