Film Review: Zero Dark Thirty

This is as real as it gets, for a Hollywood picture anyway. This film chronicles the decade-long search for the notorious Osama Bin Laden, and his ultimate demise, thanks to the dedicated actions of U.S. intelligence and soldiers. Most of this film is built on a realistic portrayal of intel gathering and the actual operation; if such things interest you, then this film should be right up your alley. Most of it is a grim, brooding, realistic drama that emphasizes the danger, the political nuances, and the moral ambiguity of the entire operation. There is action toward the end, but it’s pretty straightforward, with little shock and awe. There are a few ugly scenes as well: the torture scenes in the film’s beginning won’t sit well with everybody, and it has caused some controversy. Whether you condone or condemn everything in the film, these are things that actually happened, and the film presents them without condoning or condemning.

All of this is shown through the vantage point of a character named Maya, who serves to fulfill multiple roles in multiple levels of the operation, allowing us to see the whole thing unfold from the bottom up. It’s a bit of a stretch to believe that Maya could act in all the roles she’s given, but as a composite character, she serves the narrative’s purpose really well. What really helps will be the film’s pathos; it’s hard not to admire Maya as a character, who shows decent development, and proves to be a thrill to watch with her aggressive dedication and shrewdness. As far as the plot itself goes, it’s a straightforward affair, but it seems to adhere to real-life events really well. Some specific scenes might deviate from reality (the actual raid was much shorter and quieter than what's on film).

This film uses some rough-around-the-edges photography. Editing is good; the way it manipulates sound recordings reminded me a lot of a George Lucas film. Acting is generally good, but Jessica Chastain steals the show throughout with her perfectly nuanced performance. Writing is okay. This production uses real-looking sets, props, and costumes. Music is pretty moody.

Recommended.

4.5/5 (Entertainment: Good | Story: Good | Film: Perfect)