Zero Dark Thirty (2012)

A look into the haunting truth about the capture, and ultimately death, of Osama bin Laden, Zero Dark Thirty is a thrilling and captivating film about a 10 year man hunt. But more importantly, it's a film about staying grounded, and taking necessary risks in order to do what you set out to do.

Maya (Jessica Chastain) is a CIA officer who has spent her entire career searching for Osama bin Laden. At the beginning of her assignment, she works with her colleague Dan (Jason Clarke) who tortures and humilates a prisoner for more information about bin Laden's whereabouts. The film continues and shows events over the next 8 years that impact her life, which include surviving a bombing and losing one of her friends.

Jessica Chastain as CIA officer Maya. Source: EW

Eventually, Maya focuses her attention on a compound where she wholeheartedly believes, nay, knows that bin Laden is hiding. Convinced by her confidence, a Navy SEAL team is deployed and a raid is authorized by President Obama. At the end of the film, Osama bin Laden's dead body is brought back to camp and Maya visually confirms that is it indeed him. We see her boarding a military C-130 by herself, where she finally begins to cry.

This film is one that defines a decade. Following the events of 9/11, the world has not been the same. Director Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker) has taken the chase of a lifetime and brought it to the big screen for all of us to witness. Not an easy task. But she did it, and she did it well. From the unbelievably realistic night vision goggle scenes, to unbearable torture scenes, Zero Dark Thirty has been able to show ruthlessness, as well as human weakness all in under 160 minutes. A juxtaposition only possible and believable via the genius work of Chastain and cast, Bigelow, and writer Mark Boal.

There has been controversy surrounding the many torture scenes in the movie, but truth be told it would not have been the same movie without them. Being a CIA officer isn't easy, at least that's what I would assume so. And when you're dealing with someone as dangerous as bin Laden, well, all bets are off and you do what needs to be done in order to do your job and keep your country safe. Obviously torturing others was not a key point in capturing bin Laden, but it was an important point in telling a truthful story. That's what I believe Bigelow was trying to show viewers.

We see the dark side of the war that many of us were unaware of. With very minimal plot to work with, the story is really just Maya being right, Bigelow works wonders and her genius is what makes it impossible to tear your eyes away from the screen. As a society, we are always fascinated by things unseen, and unknown.  This innate curiosity is probably one of the biggest reasons why this film is so successful. Add in the way this film was cut and put together, and it's just an immaculate piece of art.

Rating: 9/10