A fine and engaging yet dark thriller, that insists on the up most attention
Zero Dark Thirty is director Katherine bigelows first film since 'Hurt Locker', based around the search for Osama Bin Laden after the tragic events of 9/11, and the lead up to his eventual discovery and assassination The story centres around CIA operative Maya (Jessica Chastain), the film plays like a journey, the journey she had to take in the decade long search for someone who was once the most wanted man in the world.
Jessica Chastains performance is believable I felt emphatic towards Maya as the film successfully depicts the struggles and hurdles that she takes, from the beginning of the film to the end. At times the narrative seemed to jump from one plot to another far too quickly, although there is a clear direction the film is taking you, at times it just seems like it's plodding along, tease after tease, question after question. It might just be the fact that I have read a number of books about 9/11 and the aftermath, which general audiences wouldn't have.
The torture scenes which have gathered so much controversy happen at the beginning of the film, there not as graphic as I thought they might be, if there is any effect on you it will be from a psychological point of view rather than the acts themselves. Whether it was intentional to make a point or not on the writers part, we learn that the acts of torture themselves don't come of any use.
The tone of the film is very dark, although understandable it might put off some people,although not inexplicably shown there are scenes that show terrorist attacks, the London 7/7 attacks is included in this.
The final moments when the Navy S.E.A.L.s team break into Bin Ladens hideout are executed perfectly because we see the vast majority of it through night vision goggles, from the point of view of each soldier. The tension and suspense is helped by the lack of background music, as the team of Navy S.EA.Ls move from one room to the next until the moment comes when Bin Laden is killed.
For all of its exhilaration and curiosity, when the film ends it does feel like a relief, but in a good way. And I liked that the final scene leaves us asking more questions.
Verdict- An unmissable film 4/5
