A brilliant documentary style narrative

Rating: 9/10 (17 February 2013)

I'm mystified by the criticisms of this movie. It's not a movie about "relationships" and hence not subject to a lot of character development. Nor is it a fictional action movie, where every plot twist has to be exciting and dramatic. It is a documentary style narrative - with some poetic license - outlining the main events which led to locating and killing Bin Laden.
I found the movie both realistic and compelling. Though I suspect the main character, Maya, played flawlessly by Jessica Chastain, is a composite of a number of characters, revolving the main plot sequences around her brings a sense of unity to the movie as well as putting a human face on it. And there is in fact subtle character development, mostly in Maya's developing relationships with her CIA chief, and with her cohorts, Dan and Jessica. Without giving the plot away, the story line involving Jessica has a particular and lasting impact on Maya.
The raid scene is so realistic, I still don't know how they did it. Obviously, there are actual shots from the air of the compound mixed in with an incredibly authentic set. The raid takes longer than one would think, with the time line shorter, increasing the sense of dramatic urgency.
This is the type of movie where, at the end, you feel like kissing both Maya and the American soil, while chanting U.S.A.