The Best Film of 2012

Rating: 10/10 (28 March 2013)

I can think of only a select few films that have affected me the way Zero Dark Thirty has. I was but a young lad when 9/11 took the world. I still remember the image of a plane flying into the tower and collapsing in great detail. I remember when they found Osama bin Laden, back on May 2, 2012. I didn't know what to the think say or do. And now he we are just over a year from his death and a film about it has been made. When I first heard of this film I thought it was total political propaganda, created to boost Obama during the election, but those thoughts disappeared when I looked to see who was directing it and who was writing it.
The movie opens to a black screen with the title September 11, 2001. All you can hear are scream, panicking and phone calls. These are the voices of 9/11. The film stars Jessica Chastain as our main character Maya, who is as firey as her hair. One could argue that she is the true "hero," of the film, but I found myself asking myself at the end of the film; "What is a hero? And is this movie about them? Or something else?"
Bigelow and Boal made the genius choice to not push for any political or social ideas. Merely presenting the story unbiased and completely objective. The result left me with some thoughts that still haunt my mind.
On the subject of poilitical views, it would have been better if the U.S. had captured bin Laden rather then kill him. But history is written by the victor.
Controversy is the word of day and this film can't escape it. To say that this film endorses torture is a complete misunderstanding of the film. Yes their are torture scenes, two in fact. One that sits about fifteen minutes long and the other a mere minute or so. Interestingly enough information is both gained and not gained in both scenes, it is not until they treat the first torture victim to a civilized lunch gets him to talk.
The standout performance is Jessica Chastain, who deserved that Oscar a thousand times more than Jennifer Lawrence but who am I to say who should and shouldn't win. Second to Chastain is the great Australian Jason Clarke who plays Dan, a rough vetraned CIA agent who has seen at least a hundred naked men for torturing them alone.
The final raid on bin Laden's compound is some of the most intense minutes of my life. The best part is that there is no efficese on the SEALs or bin Laden. A particular line I remember; "I shot the third floor guy."
The very ending is what hit the most.