Movies: Zero Dark Thirty

Score:  ****1/2 out of ***** (A)

Long Story Short:  Oscar-winning director Kathryn Bigelow returns to the big-screen with another Oscar nominee in Zero Dark Thirty.  Zero lives up to the hype with an intense, realistic narrative of the hunt for Osama bin Laden and, equally as impressive, a brilliant lead performance from Jessica Chastain as the CIA officer who just wouldn't give up.  Come for Chastain, and brace yourself for the riveting ups and downs (culminating in the SEAL Team Six raid) in the hunt for bin Laden.


This is the kick-off to the 2013 film season, and we start off with an Oscar nominee in Zero Dark Thirty.  Technically, this film was released in 2012, but was only released widely in January so that's why I'm counting it as 2013.  There were a number of factors leading me to see this, besides the fact that it's gotten such good reviews and Oscar nominations.  The subject is an interesting one, and I had missed the director's Oscar-winning The Hurt Locker, from what I can tell a similar film, from a few years ago.  Zero Dark Thirty was directed by Kathryn Bigelow and stars Jessica Chastain, Jason Clarke, and several actors you'll recognize in smaller roles.

Zero Dark Thirty opens with a dark screen, playing audio clips from emergency calls placed during 9/11.  Then we are taken to 2003, where Maya (Chastain), a young CIA officer, has just been assigned to an unnamed "black site" in Pakistan.  There she witnesses first-hand the repeated interrogation and torture of a key al-Qaeda captive.  Shaken by the methodology at first, Maya is soon latches onto the first link in a chain that she believes could lead her to Osama bin Laden.  Dan (Clarke), the officer who introduced her to work in the field, is sent back to Washington and Maya takes the hunt for bin Laden fully onto her determined shoulders.

Despite an increasingly hostile working environment in Pakistan, and an administration in Washington determined to shut down interrogation techniques that were invaluable to the CIA, the young officer only grows more tenacious and skilled in her daunting mission.  You may recognize some scenes along the way that made the news (including the terrorist attack written about in the book The Triple Agent), and when you finally see bin Laden's compound, an eerie yet satisfying tingle crawls up your spine.

With an ultra-realistic, almost documentary feel, the cast of Zero Dark Thirty had to be good, and fortunately, it is.  First and foremost is Jessica Chastain as Maya, who absolutely knocks it out of the park.  The main topic of the film is the hunt for bin Laden, but parallel to that (and perhaps more important) is the nuanced evolution of Maya, and Chastain truly brings her to life.  From the early torture scenes, where Chastain shows Maya's discomfort yet determination to stick to it, to her frustrations after numerous setbacks, to controlled yet impassioned arguing with her superiors to keep on the hunt, the actress creates one of the best hero/heroines in recent film history.

Chastain is supported by some other good performances, too.  Jason Clarke as Dan, the interrogator/ torturer, has clearly become accustomed to treating captives as sub-human yet he clings to some shreds of normalcy in a believable way.  Kyle Chandler is great as a top bureaucrat, supporting his officers at times but ultimately bending to whatever he feels is best for his own career.  Mark Strong, a villain in so many films, is also very good as a CIA official whose feelings on Maya's mission evolve in the way Chandler's bureaucrat could not.  There are some other notable appearances, but the last I'll mention is Chris Pratt (Andy from Parks&Rec) as a member of the Navy SEALS squad.  It was a bit difficult for me to see Andy, er, Chris as a Navy SEAL, but his presence added a touch of lightness to an otherwise incredibly tense, sometimes brutal finale.

Zero Dark Thirty is a deadly serious film; it does not dramatize the story in the way that Argo often did (not to say either is right or wrong, just different).  At the same time, it is not a dark or depressing film, which is quite an accomplishment.  Yes, there are the torture scenes (water boarding), but they do not set the tone of the film; Zero gives you a glimpse of what it's like, then later offers tough questions about it.  Yes, there are some sudden, terrifying attacks (by both good and bad guys).  But all of this is placed within the context of Maya's journey, and her indomitable spirit buoys the audience.  I would also argue that the violence/action is well balanced to convey its genuine danger and context.  There are even touches of humor here and there, which, importantly, all fits well with the tone of the film (no wink wink, nudge nudge).

***

As I've already mentioned, there are comparisons to be made between Zero Dark Thirty and Argo.  Incredible stories of clandestine American activities in central Asia.  Great tension.  Impressive supporting casts.  However, the main reason why Argo is an A- and Zero Dark Thirty is an A (with potential for A+ if it holds up over time) is Ben Affleck vs. Jessica Chastain.  Chastain gives a Navy SEAL-like performance, while Affleck is more like campus security.  I can't really think of much more to say about the film; it's just really well done.  Perhaps it starts to drag just a little, but in a way that's appropriate in reflecting Maya's long, agonizing mission.  And once the bin Laden raid starts, time ceases to be a factor.  A final note:  between the current favorites for Best Picture Oscar, I favor Lincoln over Zero Dark Thirty, but both are perfectly worthy (I would still choose Life of Pi over either, but it doesn't stand a chance).  Highly recommended.