If you liked Blackhawk Down you will probably like this movie

Rating: 8/10 (6 January 2013)

The 2.5ish hours went by fast. The magic of this movie for me was the rhythm of it. It's a slow but steady pace but the intensity keeps building. In the last 30 minutes it still feels like the same pace but it is very intense and I was totally engaged at that point. Afterwards I felt drained. Escapism at its best which is what movies are all about.
I have mixed feelings about the Chastain character. I am not sure if it was great acting by not overdoing it, great directing trying to make her look very human and flawed, great script. Maybe all of the above or maybe that's just the way it came together and the acting and directing were not all that outstanding. I don't know but it worked for me. I never really got to like the Chastain character but perhaps that was the point. She helps carry the plot through it's twists and turns but doesn't get in the way of it. Like one of the lines in the movie, they are not there to be your friend.
Like many others I am not happy that the movie slants towards suggesting torture produced actionable intelligence because all information we have to date says it didn't. However, I didn't let it get in the way of my experience with this movie. To be quite honest it made the movie better than it would have been without that piece of fiction. Also, from what I have read beyond the 3rd party rumours from more credible sources, there never was a real Chastain character. She is more of a composite character comprising many many people who came and went on this including multiple CIA directors. That is how you turn reality into a compelling movie. Create composite characters, combine events, and bend facts or create your own when necessary to improve the story. If you want reality go watch a documentary.