“His work is so incisive and brilliant”: Michael Mann is full of praise for this extraordinary film released 17 years ago

When a director of Michael Mann's caliber gets to the table and readily agrees to discuss the works he loves, we are silent and listen to religiously. The filmmaker was indeed asked by the site LetterboxD (via the YouTube channel James Whale Bake Sale) to deliver his cinematographic favorites; And one of his choices stopped on an overpowered film signed by a great director: Deminers by Kathryn Bigelow.

History? It takes place in the middle of the Iraq war in Baghdad. The chief sergeant James, a demining specialist in the combat zone, takes the lead of a unit of ultra-trained men to defuse explosives. But his methods surprise two of his soldiers, when he precipitates them in a deadly urban Guerilla game, without worrying about their security.

James behaves as if death did not scare him. The city plunges into chaos. His subordinates try to reason with James, grayed out by danger. His true nature is then revealed, and his men will be marked forever …

Incisive and shiny work

In her story, Mann logically highlights the formidable performance of Jeremy Renner, and explores the psychological aspect of the main character, who develops an adrenaline dependence on combat situations, even comparing her to the experience of war photographers.

“The performance of [Jeremy] Renner is brilliant. The film takes these dynamic external events, war, and takes us on an intimate journey of someone who does an extraordinarily dangerous job, and which gradually becomes more dangerous when its mission is about to end. A job that pushes it and still pushes it. […] Back in civilian life, he cannot bear it and then commits to another period of service.

SND

It is an addiction to adrenaline, I almost want to say the pathology of a cyclic event. I observed that this phenomenon is common. We also find this dependence among war photographers, who are dependent on adrenaline and escape, even if they are exposed to risks.

One of my friends was a war photographer. How is it an escape, an escape? I could understand that it is a commitment. […] It is a way to escape the invoices of daily life, because you escape in extreme situations of life or death. […] But anyway, I think her job is so incisive and brilliant and that she is really a great director. “

A great award -winning multi film … but a terrible flop at the box office

Deminers received during the 82nd Oscar ceremony in 2010 no less than six statuettes: best film, best director, best sound, best sound montage, best editing, best original script; Against three for the other serious challenger, avatar.

These awards have marked two historical facts: Kathryn Bigelow became the first woman to receive the Oscar for the best director. A necessarily intense moment of joy for the filmmaker, who will also be held this year retained by the Time as one of the 100 most influential personalities in the world.

In a cruel injustice, among the long list of winning films of the Oscar for best film, demineers was the biggest flop at the box office in the history of the ceremony, with only $ 17 million in revenue (150 times less than Aatar) on American soil. With its six Oscars, Démineurs was however the most acclaimed and crowned film of 2010 with its 75 international prizes. It hurts …