To explain the title: as I write this, that is what IMDB states when you look up Kathryn Bigelow. Right behind it the site says: "See why on IMDbPro" but I don't think I need to. Her current fame can easily be explained by anyone following the news: last Sunday Kathryn Bigelow became the first woman who won the Oscar for best Director, for her film "The Hurt Locker".
But although she now gets dangerously close to becoming a household name, genre fans worldwide have known her work for decades. Few women can boast to have made horror films, action films, war films or science fiction films, yet Bigelow has given us memorable examples of each...
So here are five films she made prior to "The Hurt Locker", and which had already put her name firmly on our map.
Near Dark (1987)
A vampire flick with a difference, upon release "Near Dark" stood out for treating its characters seriously in a time when horror films were taking either the slasher route or the comedy route. The film successfully blended several genres in an original way and on top of that it was uncommonly gory.
Although its initial release was a bit rocky it soon gathered a cult following and is still remembered fondly. Seeing Bill Paxton on that poster sure brings back happy memories, so let's try to forget that a remake is being planned...
Point Break (1991)
With the Eighties-buddy-cop-thriller already getting a bit tired, in the early Nineties we suddenly got this enemy-cop-thriller thrown at us. Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze starred as the ridiculously young detective and the ridiculously cool surfer-criminal who try to outwit each other while drenched in both seawater and mutual admiration.
While the film was never even remotely realistic it sure was entertaining, and totally worthy of being homaged in "Hott Fuzz".
Wild Palms (1993)
This 5-part miniseries produced by Oliver Stone featured James Belushi as Harry Wyckoff, a corporate flunky trapped in a soap-opera of sorts who stumbles on a bizarre conspiracy featuring reality-bending sensory equipment. Its unique mixing of technology with philosophy predated "The Matrix" by several years but already covered many of the same areas.
Kathryn Bigelow was one of the four directors involved, and this is once again a very cool project that she is associated with.
Strange Days (1995)
If you are ever curious about what a film would look like that was written by James Cameron but not directed by him, look no further.
A strongly flawed sci-fi thriller about the upcoming millennium-angst featuring a device which records sensory input, "Strange Days" fails to bank on its star Ralph Fiennes, then the next big thing because of "Schindler's List". However, it almost completely redeems itself through the use of Angela Bassett as a kick-ass limo driver and some impressive crowd scenes.
K-19: The Widowmaker (2003)
Technically speaking a war movie without a real war, "K-19: The Widowmaker" tells the story of the near-fatal maiden voyage of Russia's first atomic sub and starred both Harrison Ford and Liam Neeson.
Meticulously detailed on a technical front (the sub sets especially are incredibly impressive) the film still got criticized by real K-19 veterans for featuring Hollywoodized drama elements (exactly as happens now with "The Hurt Locker").
No love for BLUE STEEL?
The allure of this woman's work eludes me. I liked Near Dark but beyond that I don't get it at all. I feel like people will be talking about The Hurt Locker in a few years the way they talk about Gladiator or Crash now.
The short film she did with Uma Thurman (for Pirelli i think), that was quite cool also.
I have been a far of her for more than 25 years, I am happy she is getting more attention now.
so hostile ! she made awesome genre movies. with the last she struck gold, the right time-team-actors and made an exceptional movie. getting the oscar has more to do with her being a she+cameron's ex-wife+having a movie critics love. the oscar is more a statement about hollywood (blockbuser vs. independent) than honoring her. Not that she needed it, the oscar is no price in my eyes, she already got all the "important" prices.
Yep - since Near Dark, I have been a real fan of Bigelow and I always know there will be something of interest in anything she touches (although somehow I have never caught K-9: The Widowmaker - time to seek it out...)
For some reason I thought she did Girlfight as well. Watched Point Break a few nights ago. Still rocks.
Why is Strange Days so flawed? I freakin' love that flick! Point Break & Near Dark also rock!
Of course, I'm glad The Hurt Locker won. It was a weak year & that was certainly the Best Picture up for the award.