By Chase Bayless ’15
THE ROUNDUP
“Zero Dark Thirty”- Starring: Jessica Chastain and Jason Clarke
9.5 out of 10
For more than a decade the immensely feared Osama Bin Laden, leader of the Al-Qaeda terrorist group, was labeled as one of the most wanted men in the world’s history.
Being the alleged ringleader of the Sept. 11th terrorist attacks and responsible for more than 3,000 U.S. civilian deaths made him the focus of a worldwide manhunt led by the CIA.
“Zero Dark Thirty,” directed by Kathryn Bigelow, takes on the tough task of portraying this hunt.
After listening to chilling Sept. 11th 911 calls, a black screen appears saying this film is based on firsthand accounts of actual events.
Jessica Chastain, recent Golden Globe winner for best actress, plays CIA agent Maya who is eventually responsible for finding the location of Bin Laden.
The intense interrogations and dark scenes of torture on Al-Qaeda members and associates will make some uncomfortable.
While politicians and government officials across the United States argue with Bigelow on the facts and specifics of the hunt, the scenes are undeniably captivating and exciting.
The first two hours of the movie covers Maya, along with other CIA agents, spending endless amounts of time searching everywhere for the next lead on Bin Laden.
This stretch is filled with smaller action scenes that are key to the stories’ development.
After years of nonstop work Maya finally uncovers the lead she needs.
Although every viewer should already know how this ends, the movie does a phenomenal job of keeping you interested in the events preceding the raid of Bin Laden’s compound.
After watching hours of the CIA failing to find Bin Laden, the last 30 minutes is the reason people see this film.
The raid and capture is as realistic and intense as any action scene.
You realize how much work has been put into this operation and how big this event really is to the United States and the rest of the world.
The acting of Chastain and others make this movie great, while the bold screenplay and historical significance make “Zero Dark Thirty” a must-see.
