Kathryn Bigelow

Kathryn Bigelow



So, let me tell you about Kathryn Bigelow (born in San Carlos, California, on November 27, 1951), this absolutely powerhouse American film director.

She’s pretty much legendary for hitting us with cult classics like the horror flick Near Dark (1987), that high-octane action ride the big wave (1991), and of course, her massive Oscar awarding war drama about Iraq war, The Hurt Locker (2008). Can you believe she was actually the very first woman to win the top prize from the American directors guild, and even made history as the first female winner of the Oscar for Best Director? She pulled both off for The Hurt Locker! And man, that movie swept up Academy Awards for Best film and Best Director too, not to mention snagging a Golden Globe nomination.

IMDb
Wikipedia
Rotten Tomatoes



Filmography:

The Loveless (1982)
Born in Flames (1983)
Near Dark (1987)
Reach (1988)
Blue Steel (1989)
Point Break (1991)
Strange Days (1995)
The Weight of Water (2000)
K-19: The Widowmaker (2002)
The Hurt Locker (2008)

_OSCAR - 2010 Academy Award for Best Picture

_BAFTA - Academy Awards Award for Best Film

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I honestly feel like this lady totally deserves her own dedicated thread because she’s gone ahead and proven herself as an incredible filmmaker. 👍

For some people, The Hurt Locker (2008) is easily her peak, while others see it as just one of those movies that helped secure all the awards for her entire body of work, but if you ask me, I think it’s kind of a bit of both?

I really have a hunch that Kathryn is going to keep us happy with more great films down the road, and since she’s already racked up so much prestige and acclaim, I bet people are going to pay even closer attention to whatever she puts out next.

I’ve sat through her whole filmography and honestly, they’re all solid, but if I had to pick my absolute favorites, I’d have to go with K-19: The Widowmaker (2002), Point Break (1991), Near Dark (1987), and Strange Days (1995).

I think I’ve only actually sat down to watch Point Break and Strange Days so far...

I’ve always felt that Point Break is such a fantastic action thriller, especially because of how effectively it’s set within the surfing subculture. I guess that whole atmosphere just adds this extra layer of charm to the movie that you don't see very often, which makes it feel a bit more special to me.

I honestly feel like Strange Days is such an incredible movie, maybe one of those gems from the nineties that just hasn't received the credit it truly deserves...

Near Dark is excellent

Point Break actually translates to "Hell Wave." And "The Big Wave" is just how people translated John Mills' film, Big Wednesday (1978)

Anyway, she’s a solid director—honestly one of the best out there—but The Hurt Locker felt more like propaganda wrapped in some vague, unfinished setting rather than a serious piece of cinema... and all those stories about the movie being a hunt for Osama don't really scream high quality to me.

The Miraculous Year (TV 2011)

Cast: Lee Pace, Susan Sarandon, Frank Langella, Susan Sarandon, Hope Davis

So, as of right now, we don't actually have an official release date on the books for this one. But honestly, since it's being helmed by this lady, shouldn't we just assume it's going to be solid? Even if it's technically a TV movie, I have a feeling she'll make sure it hits all the right notes, don't you think?

The Hurt Locker (2008)



So, I just finished watching it—pretty sure it’s my fourth time through now—so I figured I’d jump on here and share some thoughts while they're still fresh in my mind.

I gotta be honest, it didn't exactly blow me away this time around, which is kind of funny because I really thought it would hit harder after seeing it so many times.
Don't get me wrong, it’s obviously not going to sit at the top of the all-time greatest war movies list, but you shouldn't even approach it that way, right? You just have to sink into it and let it happen; if you go in expecting a masterpiece, it might actually feel a little underwhelming.
What really pulls this movie out of the pack and elevates it above your average flick is primarily Jeremy Renner's killer performance, along with that incredible direction and that gritty, "modern war" vibe that just radiates off the screen—plus, there are a few scenes in there that are just so well-executed they stick with you.
If I had to nitpick, the main flaw is probably the story itself; I mean, it's fine, but could it have been better? Just a tiny bit. I feel like it could have leaned into a much more "dirty," raw aesthetic to match the lead actor's look, rather than feeling slightly too polished in certain spots.
All in all though, it’s a solid movie and one I genuinely enjoy. It sits way above the average, and honestly, if you haven't seen it yet, you really should—even if war movies aren't usually your thing. Definitely worth a watch from me!

My rating: 7/10

I just finished watching Strange Days and The Hurt Locker.

Strange Days is seriously good—those POV scenes are pure cinematic madness.
The Hurt Locker is an absolute masterpiece. It honestly deserved to beat out Avatar at the Oscars, and I think it’s one of those movies people have totally misread lately (from an audience perspective, anyway; the critics absolutely loved it).

Anyway, looks like I've got more of her stuff to catch up on...

Just caught The Hurt Locker yesterday and honestly, I expected more. It’s a solid flick, but I don't think it deserved all that Oscar hype. Sure, maybe a few nods, but not everything—especially considering Avatar was right there in the mix. To me, Avatar felt like the better movie.

I'd put it at a 7/10, matching what cosmiclynx57 went with.

Strange Days is hands down one of the absolute best and most underrated films I’ve ever laid eyes on... I remember catching it back in '95 at a small local theater in a sleepy town outside of Chicago... there were maybe eight people in the whole auditorium including myself... honestly, what a tragedy to have such a masterpiece sitting there almost empty! 😢

It’s the exact same story with Blue Steel... just a fantastic crime thriller... I can't recommend it enough.

K-19: The Widowmaker (2002)



Harrison Ford and Liam Neeson absolutely crushed it, especially Ford! 🙏 Honestly, this movie is a total masterpiece 👍

I mean, how is this film so underrated? It’s actually tragic, seriously—the rating on IMDb is way too low. The plot is just incredibly tense and emotional, and you find yourself totally losing yourself in the characters and the crew because everyone is portrayed so perfectly. Even if this wasn't based on an actual true story, it still would have hit me hard, but knowing it happened makes it so much more powerful, doesn't it? Seeing what those people had to face and how they managed to pull through thanks to their captain is nothing short of inspiring. And the directing? Just masterful, I don't even have the words to describe it.

My rating: 8/10

Young, dumb, and full of it!

There are a few excellent films in there.

John Peterson3 said:Man, I was just sitting here thinking about those wilder days—you know, when you're young, reckless, and basically fueled by nothing but pure, unadulterated confidence and bad ideas! It’s funny how much energy you have when you don't have a care in the world, isn't it?

Honestly, I was just sitting here thinking about how there are just so many absolutely incredible movies out there! You know those days when you realize the sheer quality of cinema we have access to? It’s such a blast to dive into a great film.

Honestly, I have to say that Point Break is hands down one of the greatest action movies ever made... it’s just one of those absolute, unquantifiable guilty pleasures that I can never get enough of! 🙂

Pappas: Twenty-two years... man, Los Angeles has gone through such a massive transformation in that time. It feels like the air has gotten a whole lot grittier, while everything else has become so much more sanitized and polite.

And this too... just absolutely immeasurable... 🤣

Johnny Utah: Alright, alright, I hear you loud and clear! Is this the part where you give me the whole "locals rule these waters" speech and tell me that some Yuppie tourist like me has no business even looking at this break?
Weiss bunker: [smiling] Not a chance.
Surf gang: Honestly, I think that would just be a total waste of everyone's time...
Pittman : We're just gonna fuck you up!

Zero Dark Thirty (2012)



Man, what an incredible movie! I honestly can't even tell you how much this caught me off guard. After seeing The Hurt Locker, I kind of worried that Bigelow wouldn't be able to hit those same heights again with a film covering such similar ground, but man, was I wrong! This might actually be even better than The Hurt Locker (which I actually bumped up to an 8 since my 7 felt way too low)—I'm still totally buzzing from it, but it’s definitely right up there in terms of quality.

It clocks in at 2.5 hours and the pacing is definitely on the slower side, but the direction, the acting, and the script are all so incredibly tight that I didn't blink once the whole time I was watching. The ending? Absolutely stunning. Honestly, the entire movie is just filled with these massive, "wow" moments that stay with you.

Seriously, hats off to Bigelow; she is absolutely killing it right now. She really needs to keep leaning into these kinds of heavy-hitting projects like this one and The Hurt Locker, along with everything else she puts out.

My rating: 8/10