Documentary flavour - deserves to win awards

Rating: 8/10 (8 February 2013)

Considering we already know how this story will end, it's amazing how suspenseful Kathryn Bigelow makes it. The assault by US Navy SEALs on the bin Laden compound in the final half-hour is nerve-shredding. This scene - indeed, most of the movie - is shot like a documentary; you feel as if you are eavesdropping on the CIA in 'real time'. None of the characters is given a back story: we are only interested in their role in the war against al-Qaeda.
Apart from some off-duty drinking with her colleagues we only ever see Maya sitting in uncomfortably on interrogations or doggedly sifting through photos and intelligence snippets. But Jessica Chastain is as every bit as mesmerising as Claire Danes in HOMELAND without any of Carrie Matthison's emotional and psychiatric baggage. Chastain - and Bigelow - definitely deserve the awards they've been nominated for.
A few familiar faces from both sides of the Atlantic turn up in supporting roles. Jennifer Ehle is excellent as one of Maya's colleagues. James Gandolfini (looking like J. Edgar Hoover) plays the CIA Director with a PA played by Britain's TV favourite John Barrowman.
2013 has got off to a strong start, cinematically speaking. ZERO DARK THIRTY is the pick of the bunch so far.