Chastain shines in a so-so film

Rating: 7/10 (13 January 2014)

Zero Dark Thirty is a retelling of events that ultimately lead to demise of America's number one enemy: Osama Bin Laden. Lead by CIA operative Maya (Chastain), the mission takes about 8 years to be completed, as both sides play their tactics of deception in what appears to be a dead- end confrontation. Kathryn Bigelow directs this Mark Boal script in the fashion that she wants. In a neutral role, Bigelow presents us with what happened in a period stretching from 2003 to 2011, as the US intelligence worked extensively to apprehend the most ruthless terrorist on earth. Jessica Chastain is once again brilliant as her character conveys determination, but also fear and uncertainty as leads come and go. By the end she is the one pushes the most to see her 8 year work be rewarded with the ultimate goal being achieved. As for technical aspects, the sound is used to great extent to support the visuals. Overall the film does tend to drag at points, and the constant documentary-like look on the story adds a little to the toughness i had connecting with it. I applaud it's virtues in filmmaking and the wonderful performance by Chastain, but in the near future i won't look to this movie to impress me.