MOVIE REVIEW: Zero Dark Thirty

Zero Dark Thirty

(2012)

IMDB 

Summary

Maya is a CIA operative whose first experience is in the interrogation of prisoners following the Al Qaeda attacks against the U.S. on the 11th September 2001. She is a reluctant participant in extreme duress applied to the detainees, but believes that the truth may only be obtained through such tactics. For several years, she is single-minded in her pursuit of leads to uncover the whereabouts of Al Qaeda's leader, Osama Bin Laden. Finally, in 2011, it appears that her work will pay off, and a U.S. Navy SEAL team is sent to kill or capture Bin Laden. But only Maya is confident Bin Laden is where she says he is.

Review

This movie drew me in just from the previews.  It had been one of my most anticipated movies of 2012 and now that it has arrived, it didn't disappoint.  First off 'The Hurt Locker' was a very good movie, although not my favorite that year (and no Avatar wasn't either), but this one was something special and is one of my favorites if not the favorite for me this year.  I don't know exactly if the movie is 100% accurate, but either way it made for a damn good movie.  Jessica Chastain delivers in the role of Maya.  I have heard some criticism to her being a two dimensional character and they are right, but I believe this is done on purpose for the sake of the role.  The movie even states how Maya was drafted right out of high school and has been on the hunt for Bin Laden her entire career as well as not having any friends, this is her life.  Chastain has very much impressed me in the last 2 years and I believe after this movie, she will have made a name for herself in Hollywood.  The supporting cast, which included the likes of Jason Clarke, Kyle Chandler, James Gandolfini, and Mark Strong were all very good as well.  The group of Navy SEALs (Joel Edgerton, Chris Pratt, Taylor Kinney, and a few others) gave us solid performances and helped provide us with the famous raid scene, which was executed perfectly.  Kathryn Bigelow did an excellent job with this one, specifically towards the last 30-40 of the movie.  Even though I knew what was coming I was still on the edge of my seat completely drawn in.  This movie had a real good story, direction, and supporting cast that all came together by an excellent performance from Jessica Chastain.
...AND SIMPLY PUT... ONE OF THE BEST FILMS OF 2012.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. A+


Cast: Jessica Chastain, Jason Clarke, Kyle Chandler, Mark Strong, Chris Pratt, Joel Edgerton, Jason Clarke, Taylor Kinney, Fares Fares, Frank Grillo, Jennifer Ehle, Nash Edgerton, Edgar Ramirez, Harold Perrineau, James Gandolfini
Director: Kathryn Bigelow
Rating: R for strong violence including brutal disturbing images, and for language
In Theaters: December 21, 2012 (limited) and January 11, 2013 (nationwide)
On BLU-RAY and DVD: March 19, 2013