As Good As Imagined

Rating: 9/10 (22 March 2013)

There is only one reason for giving this movie a lower than 8 or 9 star rating or an average review - political bias.
ZDT accomplished what it sought to do. Tell a story. Like the story or not, it told the dramatic story of the search for Osama Bin Laden - centering on the CIA female agent who stuck to the information and details. Leaving aside, again, all politically charged ideology, the search and finding of Bin Laden was an amazing feat in the face of deeply challenging opposition.
The movie itself captured the drama and the pain of the search in a powerful narrative. It is difficult to imagine a more realistic account - at the same time making a film in which everyone knew the ending - still come across as riveting and dramatic.
The last 30-40 minutes alone had both a realism and drama that I have never seen before in a film. Not even close.
Bigelow is a master of creating intensity and drama out of as realistic a political-military narrative as possible.
The only thing hurting this film and the only reason for a negative view is political bias in a negative political atmosphere.
If you watch this film, watch it with a lack of bias (politically; militarily; or otherwise). And, watch it through the lens of the powerful narrative following a great fictional-historical character played by Jessica Chastain.
Chastain clearly deserved Best Actress (and, yes, I loved SLP). Bigelow at least deserved a nomination for best director and should have won.
Sad that Hollywood - long promoting art over PC, this time chose PC over artistic value.