Since the attacks committed against the U.S. on September 11th 2001, the CIA has centered all of its assets into the search and capture of the man responsible: Osama Bin Laden. After 10 years and two wars, this one target continued to remain. The film "Zero Dark Thirty" asks us to witness the greatest manhunt on history. The events of this search that culminated in the killing of this man, are laid out before us. For the first time, the struggles of the Central Intelligence Agency are able to be shown and these accounts disclosed. Director Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker) knows that she isn’t just making a movie; she is writing a message. A message to the world about the consequences of challenging American tenacity.
A film about the hunt for Osama Bin Laden; you could have expected it to go one of two ways. You could expect it to glorify his death(it does), but you may also expect it to mock everything having to do with Bin Laden, Al Qaeda, and Islam as well. I was thankful that it does not. Every aspect of this film is made with respect and reverence. Honesty is all that is on Bigelow’s mind and it is clear that she carries no political agenda with this film. "Zero Dark Thirty" is unapologetic, it hits hard and it doesn’t care about your moral or your prejudices. Its aim is to depict the events of the last 10 years as they actually happened. At the same time, the plot of the film is able to create an atmosphere that is gripping and suspenseful. "Zero Dark Thirty" is brilliantly crafted.
Entering into a movie in which you know how it is going to end, you may wonder if there is a point in seeing it at all. This time there is. "Zero Dark Thirty" weaves a phenomenal depiction of a long lasting game of cat and mouse. The Devil is in the details, so they say. When the film finally reached its climax, I was amazed to find myself holding my breath. Holding it, not from anticipation for what I knew for a fact was about to happen; but because the film is able to fill the viewer with a real sense of uncertainty. The final half hour of this film will one for the film textbooks.
It was the week before the New Year and "Zero Dark Thirty" was offered up as a limited time release is select cities. In six days, it garnered five Oscar Nominations including: Best Achievement in Editing, Best Achievement in Sound Editing, Best Motion Picture of the Year, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role, and Best Writing/Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen.
It stars an A list cast of actors consisting of: Mark Strong, Jason Clarke, Kyle Chandler, James Gandolfini, Jennifer Ehle, Joel Edgerton, and Chris Pratt. Among these fine actors is actress Jessica Chastain, who was nominated for an Oscar last year for her role in the film "The Help". She lost to her co-star Octavia Spencer. This year, Chastain is up for another Oscar. This time, as you probably guessed, for Best Actress. Chastain is the soul and existence of this film. She has already won a Golden Globe for the role she has played as the central protagonist Maya. Chastain makes Maya as vivid as a bloodstained snow dune. Her porcelain skin, delicate features and feminine attire belie the steel and fire within. This is the best performance of her career, a career that is just beginning. After judging her from this; it is going to be a long and successful one. "Zero Dark Thirty" has been the best film I have seen all year and that is not an easy accolade to make.
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