That does make sense. It's not like there are easy answers for how a person behaves. But I didn't feel like I got enough insight. I watched the behind-the-scenes feature, and Kathryn Bigelow said she wanted to make a movie about a guy who was addicted to war, who got off on the adrenaline rush, and that generally came through, and I liked that it wasn't overplayed—it was clear that, despite really being into the excitement and near-death experiences, he still had other (sometimes conflicting) emotions—and I liked that the other two members of the team served as foils, but I just wished I knew how the hell he ended up like that. Especially when he has a frickin' son.

I think I just made myself like the movie a little more because it has more depth than I gave it credit for.

I saw it in the theater (I don't know if you did or saw it on DVD), so most of the movie I was spent gripping the hand rails, not knowing if any of the three main guys were going to make it. I'd managed to go in unspoiled on that subject, and I almost wish I had been spoiled so I could watch the movie slightly less tense.

so most of the movie I was spent gripping the hand rails, not knowing if any of the three main guys were going to make it.

I saw it on DVD and, oh yeah, I didn't know if the three main guys would be okay. And it's truly a testament to the intensity of the bomb-defusing scenes that even during the very first mission with Jeremy Renner, we were all going, "Fuck!" and "Oh shit!" as if he really could get blown up so early on in the movie. Near the end, however, I knew all bets were off.

I saw it on DVD and, oh yeah, I didn't know if the three main guys would be okay. And it's truly a testament to the intensity of the bomb-defusing scenes that even during the very first mission with Jeremy Renner, we were all going, "Fuck!" and "Oh shit!" as if he really could get blown up so early on in the movie. Near the end, however, I knew all bets were off.

Especially since two of the three "name" (or name-ish) actors got blown away in their first scenes in the movie.

BTW someone in Natter pointed out that Jeremy Renner played Penn on Angel, which completely blew by me at the time. So THAT'S why he looked familiar!

re: The General

I like the scene at the very end where he swaps positions with his girlfriend so he can salute and kiss at the same time.

Especially since two of the three "name" (or name-ish) actors got blown away in their first scenes in the movie.

I know! That was so weird. I didn't even know any of them were in the movie. It was funny that they had little bits in the behind-the-scenes feature. No Evangeline Lilly, though.

And, huh, Christian Camargo (whom I only knew from Dexter) was in K-19: The Widowmaker, which explains his presence. Ralph Fiennes was in Strange Days. Don't know if the other recognizable actors had worked with Bigelow before.

BTW someone in Natter pointed out that Jeremy Renner played Penn on Angel, which completely blew by me at the time. So THAT'S why he looked familiar!

Oooooh!

Disaster averted!

Pleasepleaseplease let that be true.

Kareen Abdul-Jabaar is on TCM now as a guest programmer.

He's a Raymond Chandler fan.

BTW someone in Natter pointed out that Jeremy Renner played Penn on Angel, which completely blew by me at the time.

That's why I was so sure the gay rumors were true despite not knowing anything about the actor! It wasn't gaydar, it was residual HoYay from Angel leaving a subconscious impression!

ita, can you believe that the posters at a comic nerd-y mesage board I frequent are bemoaning the casting of Evans as a gravitas-free prettyboy, as opposed to their choice for the role... Ryan Phillipe?

I am willing to extend some benefit of the doubt to Ryan Phillippe, more than most people, but gravitas-free prettyboy definitely makes me think of him before Chris. At least Chris has done stuff like Sunshine. I'm glad Chris is pretty, but damn, Consider the resumes.