Of course it took a woman to hunt down the most wanted man Osama Bin Laden. Who else takes no for an answer.
It’s a good year for kick-ass female agents. First Homeland’s Carrie (Claire Dane) gets her man on the Showtime original series, and now we have another female role model as a CIA agent who brought down the most wanted man on Earth.While not as edge-of-your-seats intense as Kathryn Bigelow's Academy Award-winning The Hurt Locker, ZERO DARK THIRTY is equally well done with Oscar-worthy performances from the cast especially from my new favorite actress actress Jessica Chastain.
Based on the real CIA agent who never gave up the hunt for Osama Bin Laden, the story follows Maya and her seven year journey following a lead that would eventually lead to Bin Laden's whereabouts. We all know how this story ends, but getting the behind the scenes of the manhunt makes for great drama.
The torture scenes with water boarding and other techniques have caused quite a commotion for director Kathryn Bigelow and writer Mark Boal. Critics say the film promotes the use of the controversial interrogation methods that leads to the critical information needed to find bin Laden.
Have these naysayers seen the film? Bigelow makes these scenes uncomfortable for the viewers. Like Chastain's Maya, you find yourself cringing and looking away, wondering if it’s a necessary evil in the war on terrorism. That is left to the viewer to decide, and there is no sense of glorifying the violence. It’s a matter of fact.
Besides, the interrogation methods seen in ZERO DARK THIRTY are no secret, and probably a watered down version (for lack of better word) of what really went down with the detainees.
While it’s based on some facts, I’m sure the filmmakers took dramatic license to fudge the truth slightly. I highly doubt the real CIA interrogator was as sympathetic as Jason Clark’s field operative, but the cinematic purpose requires a likable character doing his job. Jason Clarke even pleads with one of the detainees, “Please don't make me hurt you." It worked. You like this guy who doesn’t take pleasure from torturing another human being, but how true is that in real life?
As she’s proven with many of her films (Point Break, The Hurt Locker, Strange Days), Kathryn Bigelow brings on the intensity whether its an action scene or between characters. I’ve always enjoyed her direction and glad to see her back in the director’s chair garnering acclaim.
ZERO DARK THIRTY is doubly fun in that the hero is a strong woman played by the talented chameleon Jessica Chastain. This leading lady broke out big in 2011 and continued her reign of mastering new characters. She doesn’t repeat any of her performances and even avoided any similarities to her secret service agent in The Debt (2010). She’s this generation’s Meryl Streep. There’s no doubt she’ll be attending many award shows this year.
ZERO DARK THIRTY lives up to all the hype. It's one you don't want to miss when it hits theaters nationwide January 11, 2013.
