Zero Dark Thirty (Blu-ray, 2012)

Kathryn Bigelow's Best Picture

Beyond riveting depiction of the manhunt for Osama Bin Laden.

Kathryn Bigelow’s war drama Zero Dark Thirty (2012) is a bleak and blunt account of how America’s intelligence community tracked down the leader of the terrorist cell al-Qaeda named Osama Bin Laden. Bigelow goes about dramatizing this pivotal moment in American history with dry cunning and stark realism of a police procedural like Alan Parker’s Mississippi Burning, Jonathan Demme’s The Silence of the Lambs, David Fincher’s Zodiac. Her direction is innovative in her use of using creative shots to ensure every shot tells the story in an interesting way. The dark shadows and striking light create a neat contrast in her frames. Greig Fraser’s handheld cinematography is enshrouding for the behind the scenes investigative scenes and intimately haunting for the action sequences. Zero Dark Thirty is hands down Kathryn Bigelow’s greatest feature film!

Zero Dark Thirty remains a riveting drama on how the government functions among various levels of authority. Mark Boal’s script is entertaining and informative. He clearly researched a great deal as Zero Dark Thirty delivers tons of historical information and careful intelligence. He builds up the investigation into a meticulous planned out screenplay. I appreciate the fair retrospective view on all this modern history. From America’s use of unregulated torture to strange choices made by government intelligence officials delaying Bin Laden’s assassination. Zero Dark Thirty is a perfect recreation of contemporary intelligence and military operations over the most important manhunt in American history.

Jessica Chastain is phenomenal as the lead actress for Zero Dark Thirty. She plays CIA coordinator called Maya with a hurt coldness and courageous confrontation as the men she worked alongside doubted her theories. Chastain is outstanding in arguably her finest role defining her character as a strong woman for her fearless determination and inspiring ingenuity in tracking down a mass murderer. I hope Jessica Chastain takes more serious dramatic roles that allow her to be cool, intelligent, beautiful, and expressive like her role as Maya in Zero Dark Thirty.

Jason Clarke is compelling as an American soldier named Dan who tortures terrorists for information, then loses his bloodlust and opts for a desk job. Mark Strong is both hilarious and sympathetic as a George, who plans how to pitch the idea to the president’s men that Bin Laden was actually residing in that fateful compound. Kyle Chandler as Joseph Bradley is a solid foil for Chastain to bounce ideas off of and reject her plans. Likewise, Edgar Ramírez is gripping as the doubtful Larry from Ground Branch who gives Chastain grief for her ideas too. Jennifer Ehle’s character Jessica is a wonderful breathe of fresh air as a complex female character in the intelligence world dominated by men. She befriends Chastain’s lady Maya for a nice friendship in the middle of all the warfare.

James Gandolfini cameos as the C.I.A. Director for a powerful performance full of gravitas. Stephen Dillane’s presence is welcome as the skeptical National Security Advisor. Also, John Barrowman gets a fun cameo as Jeremy with a great moment alongside Gandolfini.

Joel Edgerton is excellent and commanding as Patrick the Squadron Team Leader of Navy S.E.A.L. Team 6. Chris Pratt is pretty funny and believable as Justin, DEVGRU, of S.E.A.L. Team 6. Would you believe a young Mike Colter cameos as Mike, DEVGRU, of S.E.A.L. Team 6? Zero Dark Thirty has such a massive cast of superstars that it’s hard to believe.

The final raid of Bin Laden’s fortified compound in Pakistan by The United States of America’s Navy S.E.A.L. Team 6 is thriller filmmaking of grand suspense with terrifying stakes. You get to watch these American heroes patriotically avenge America for 9/11 with bold and brave choices. Bigelow uses focused direction and reserved style to create an air of mystery and suspense throughout Zero Dark Thirty.

Zero Dark Thirty’s 157 minutes feel like a cool 30 minutes with how steadily paced and intriguing the story is with fascinating events. William Goldenberg and Dylan Tichenor’s editing keeps you engaged with fast, hard cuts with purpose. They make conversations as compelling as the explosions and gunfights. I really enjoyed the subtle score from composer Alexandre Desplat. He’s a legendary composer already as he constantly delivers thoughtful accompaniment to any film.

Behold Bigelow’s picture of a decade long operation that all Americans can be proud of; for this I am thankful.Read full review

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Not much to say other than the case look...

Not much to say other than the case looks great besides a small blemish on the front plastic, and the movie plays wihout issues, which is the most important thing in these purchases.

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Zero Dark Thirty

My pick for Best Picture Oscar. Gritty, dark, soul shredding, monument to all those involved in the capture of Osama Bin Laden. After watching this, one has to pause to wonder how anyone involved in this decade old manhunt could ever return unscathed to a somewhat routinely, normal life after having dedicated every moment of every day for a decade exclusively focused on a single purpose. To be sure, the lives lost on 9/11 weren't the only casualties of a war of ghosts and terrorists.Read full review

As good as it get's

Great value, however, it was advertised as having all three blueray, dvd & digitial. However, it did not have a digitial code. All in all still a good value.

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Excellent movie

A gripping drama of the Iranian hostage and how they were able to make their way back to the USA. Well worth watching!

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I had to have a back-up.

I've watched this movie many, many times. I look for details I may have missed. Then I research them and find out the actual circumstances or events, and all the different views that surround each. And they DO differ. For example; Pakistan funded the attack on Camp Chapman. There are many more examples; and I learned a lot about so many different things: the State Dept., Pakistan, CIA, Gitmo detainees,...and with GoogleEarth, the actual terrain in South Asia, including the area of Tora Bora.
Excellent movie!Read full review

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Great film

Overall it's a great movie based on a true story.

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good name to hide subject

great show for the subject.

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Action packed real life story

Excellent movie based on real life events.. Jessica Chastain does a great job..

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You owe it to yourself to own this one!

What a great, engaging, realistic story! Keeps a healthy dose of realism throughout while shining a light on the work of many unsung heroes who do their jobs with such devotion often WELL beyond the call of duty.Read full review

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