Mark Boal and Kathryn Bigelow
Any filmgoer who isn’t familiar with “Zero Dark Thirty” – and the controversy it has triggered in recent days over the CIA’s alleged use of torture (the waterboarding technique, for example) to extract highly-sensitive information from terrorists – must be living in a vacuum.
The just-released feature directed by Kathryn Bigelow (Point Break & The Hurt Locker) is a loosely-based account of the capture (and subsequent assassination) of Osama bin Laden.
A handful of critics have raved about the Sony Studio project; but, if filmgoers forget for a one moment that Osama bin Laden is the target of the manhunt, it becomes evident that “Zero” is nothing more than a taut suspenseful thriller (a cut above a quickie movie-of-the-week).
Although the film is long – almost three hours – the audience hangs on the edge of their seats throughout, though, because the tale is compelling-told on screen.
Mark Boal (Bigelow's significant other in real life) has written a tight intelligent script, after all, that translates well to the medium of film.
In sum, "Zero Dark Thirty" is a believable piece of entertainment that moves along at a fast clip with enough action-adventure sequences to satisfy most thrill-seekers.
The tone is dark – there is a lot of cloak and dagger stuff going down here after all – but there are moments of levity, too, which are the film’s saving grace.
For instance, when one official quizzes operatives about the manhunt behind closed doors, one agent blurts out the awful truth.
“We don’t know what we don’t know.”
“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” he barks back angrily.
The audience roars!
At times, Boal relies on the fact audiences are familiar with the minutest details of the intriguing bin laden saga, to the movie’s detriment.
And - on occasion - filmgoers are forced to read between the lines to fathom the message subtly being hammered home by the producers.
Torture is an acceptable practice if the end justifies the means.
In order to legitimize the arguments, the promoters seize on the fact that Boal is a former journalist.
Then, they take a leap and label "Zero Dark Thirty" cinematic journalism!
A first-year student knows that any journalist worth his weight – and if ethical - reports both sides of the story fairly and squarely.
Here, the filmmakers have relied solely on the reasoning (and dubious excuses) of the alleged CIA agents involved to state their case – then - proceeded to exalt their outrageous conduct to hero status.
The story is basically told through the eyes of a lead female character - “Maya” – a CIA agent fresh out of the academy who is assigned the difficult task of tracking down the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden.
Jessica Chastain is riveting in the role.
Her acting is remarkable, in fact. At times, the mesmerizing actress has only to “think” a "thought" to get her message across.
Her performance is measured, confident, and ballsy.
For example, when a high-ranking CIA Director probes his male underlings as to the identity of the gal sitting in the shadows at the back of the room, she defiantly makes no bones about her role in tracking down Osama bin Laden.
“I’m the motherfucker who found the compound where bin Laden was hiding,” she snarls, in so many words, as her superiors cringe in horror.
The scene bowls the audience over.
It is understandable why Kathryn Bigelow was drawn to this script which features a strong female character in a pivotal demanding role.
Like “Maya”, Bigelow obviously fought tooth and nail to gain footing - and sustain it - in a male dominated arena in Hollywood film circles.
Bigelow’s direction in "Zero" is almost pedestrian at times, though.
She rarely drifts off-track – nor is there ever any fat – to distract.
Some surprises are not unlike poetry in motion.
In one shot, a flock of birds alighting speaks volumes, for example.
A visual image is often facilitated to underscore a subtle point without the need to bang the audience over the head to get their attention.
All in all, "Zero Dark Thirty" is pretty good fimmaking, but it’s doubtful that the spine-tingling docudrama will nab the Oscar for best picture.
By the way, I was one of the first reporters to post an alert on the mystifying Osama bin Laden funeral at sea, after his slaying.
I vividly recall that the hits on The Tattler web site were phenomenal.
I expect that when "Zero Dark Thirty" hits theatres in wide release in the new year, that throngs of filmgoers will flock to screening rooms to catch it, if only for curiosity's sake.
3 stars!
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