MYST Post #1: Zero Dark Thirty

9-10 Thumbs up

Zero Dark Thirty is about the greatest man hunt in the entire wold. The USA finally killed Osama Bin Ladin and this movie gives you the details and the tactics on how they got him. This movie has been on my watch list the first I saw the trailer on IMDB. What guy wouldn't want to see a war movie that has been nominated for best picture in the oscars. But, when I think of war movies I think of trench warfare with explosions and constant battles. I saw Act of Valor a couple weeks ago and if you have seen that movie you would know that their is constant battle and explosions. But, just like Kathryn Bigelow's last film (The Hurt Locker) Zero Dark Thirty is more slow ad not as much action.

Kathryn Bigelow likes the "slow action" scripts. The scripts focus mainly on conspiracy and suspense. Rarely you see constant gun fire and fist fights in this type of movie. You need a strong story and a great lead role. Jessica Chastaine in Zero Dark Thirty plays a crazed CIA conspirator. Her acting catches you off guard. She is crazy good and she really takes on a character that needs and gets what she wants. She was talking on the phone with another CIA agent to get access to a terrorist phone number. Her actions, her voice, and her force made the CIA agent get the number. You could really see how intense she was about this acting part, and it payed off. Kathryn Bigelow's movies always have a strong main role that make the movie good or not. This main role takes away from the performances of the other actors/actresses though. Jason Clarke was just phenomenal in this movie. He play just this bad ass interrogator in the beginning of the film and he plays the character to perfection. I love his anger and quotes in the movie. He usually is a tough guy character in the movies he is in, just like his role as Howard Bondarant in the bootlicker film Lawless.

They had the right actors for the movie and they had a jackpot for a script. How they put it together in my mind was also genius. Starting the movie off with a powerful interrogation scene hooks you in the first five minutes. Like most movies the intensity dies down in the middle. With the shots being more up close then full body it really gets you thinking about the characters actions. It becomes darker and makes you focus on every little detail that is being shown or said. The final scene is a take down of Bin Ladin and that is when they start to show camera angles in first person. It gives you a feeling like you are at the house and keeps you on the edge of your seat.

I think this movie has the perfect combination of cinematography, acting, script, and directing. To me, this movie is the best war movie I have ever seen. I was so into the movie that I kept hushing my friend when he was interrupting me to tell me what he thought was cool about the recent scene. It is just a powerhouse movie that everyone should go see. Zero Dark Thirty is a must see movie and an in my opinion an Oscar winning film. We will have to wait and see what the results are at the Academy Awards.