Ten Years in the Making

Rating: 9/10 (12 January 2013)

So we'll get this out of the way now so we don't have any miscommunication. If you still firmly believe that 9/11 was 100% the work of the US government, as in they set charges in the towers, they killed everyone on United 93, then don't watch this film because this is not for you.
Now to the film. Much like The Hurt Locker, it was an excellent film with great acting writing and directing. But before we go into the film and it's positives and negatives (and it's lacking of them), let's close our eyes and take a ride down memory lane (Please picture this as rough as it was). 11 years ago, our nation was changed forever by deliberate and disgusting attacks that not only put an unfair stereotypes to Muslim's everywhere, but it also killed about 3,000 people around the time a normal person becomes productive at work (10:28 A.M. to be exact). People jumped to their deaths, people lost family, friends and people were taken from this world way to soon. Now open your eyes and watch the film knowing that you know the ending without even seeing the film (if you don't you're an idiot).
Ms. Bigelow does a great job introducing us into the film without any visuals and it allowed you vision the things yourself. Something anyone could consider chilling, which shows her skill as a director to bring the audience in. Then the hunt begins, as the film progresses through our hunt. She reminds us on why America keep hunting and the attacks in between 9/11 and the day of justice. Along with that, she, with the help of a solid script by Mark Boal, showed the politics and the pain that was getting the plans in motion. With that we get to know the people who helped make it happen. We meet Maya, who is played wonderfully by Jessica Chasatain, who if in another world, would be a great as a homicide detective. We see her changed as time progressed. Along with her is great performances by a solid supporting cast. Jason Clarke plays a great CIA agent who has his fair share of great moments as he mentors her in the ways of hunting terrorists in the good ways and the bad. Jennifer Ehle does a great job as her closest friend in the agency. Plus with good brief performances by Tony Soprano, Michael from Lost, Mark Strong, Edgar Ramirez and even Mark Duplass from FX's The League. Not a lot was wrong with it, even the interrogation techniques and the politics that made you either uncomfortable or angry or both. But what makes this film great isn't the story itself, but the feeling of it.
Bigelow doesn't make this film anything more then what it its, a honest portrayal of history. It isn't a right wing rah rah piece of American propaganda nor is it a left wing Michael Moore selfish anti-government video that was made just to make money (even though it was made for that reason, anyway). She wants us to feel what those people felt and it worked like a charm. You couldn't feel happy, you couldn't feel sad, which brings up the final part of this review.
No matter what kind of film or thing that is done regarding 9/11, it can't bring back the lives lost that day or after that day. So the best thing we can do is learn from past mistakes (mistakes that continue throughout the film a.k.a politics) and learn from them and bring everyone responsible to justice whether it's in court or Seal Team Six style. That's what Bigelow expressed in a great way, she showed how far we went to get to the prize and what prices we paid to make it happen. The only flaw was that the film was predictable but then again we all knew the story when we went in, we just wanted details.
For those who were uncomfortable with the content. Yes, this film shows torture at it's finest and respectably, much like Django, it will make people uncomfortable. Like Django, you got to keep it in perspective, remember what happened on 9/11 and every attack after that. Is it wrong, maybe (personally I didn't have a problem with it but then again I'm not everyone), but was it the right thing given the circumstances and knowing what's at stake. Hell Yeah. On that note enjoy the film and let's not forget what was lost and what it takes to bring justice to those who want to kill our friends and family. If you remember that you'll understand it.
Bonus Points: Seal Team Six performers were solid as well, particularly Chris Pratt from Moneyball, that man has a future to say the least.