Zero Dark Thirty

How true is the, "based on true events," opener in the beginning of Zero Dark Thirty? Only top level CIA officials and NAVY SEAL's may know the answer to that query. Luckily for the purposes of this movie review the event accuracy of Zero Dark Thirty does not have to be dissected. The film, 100% accurate or 98.654% accurate is a smash hit. Actress Jessica Chastain and actor Jason Clarke have breakout performances respectively. Going into this film and from the way it was marketed many viewers were expecting a bevy of choppy shoot-'em-up military scenes, but what truly makes Zero Dark Thirty a superb film is the way Chastain relentlessly goes after her goal of finding Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden. In a film in which the majority of people know the ending, the story-line has to be strong and that is another area where Zero Dark Thirty delivered. The trials, tribulations, hardships, and multiple dead ends are well displayed as the CIA does everything is can, even bending moral boundaries, to track down enemy's of the United States and her allies; most notably Bin Laden. The main source of controversy surrounding Zero Dark Thirty was it's display of torture carried out by U.S. officials against detainees. The accuracy of these displays as they relate to what actually happened can always be called into question, but that just creates more intrigue for the viewer. You may find yourself wondering if you are witnessing an accurate portrayal of the torture techniques that the U.S. carried out in Iraq and Afghanistan or if those tactics are being exaggerated for the big screen. It's up to the viewer to decided where they feel the truth lies. 

The good: The brilliance of Zero Dark Thirty is so high that it would not be a stretch to say that the film nearly sums up a decade of blood, sweat, tears, and lost lives that went into the locating and eventual killing of Osama Bin Laden. 

The bad: The only negatives depend on the individuals view of torture, and how much time one is willing to spend researching the accuracy of the film, if that is what they are looking for.

Rating: 9.2 out of 10.