"Zero Dark Thirty" is a Masterpiece of Suspense

Why is there so much controversy surrounding Zero Dark Thirty? The allegations that the film features a pro-torture stance are absurd. Maybe there is still some concern that director Kathryn Bigelow and screenwriter Mark Boal somehow obtained classified information that was used to craft the film. Or perhaps strong women like Bigelow and the main protagonist in Zero Dark Thirty, CIA agent Maya (Jessica Chastain), bother men in general with their take charge approach and desire to do their jobs to the best of their abilities. Whatever the reason, I suspect that the controversy may have cost Bigelow a much deserved Oscar nomination for Best Director, but she will have other opportunities in the years to come to win her second trophy (she won her first with The Hurt Locker).

Zero Dark Thirty centers around the hunt for Osama Bin Laden after the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. A young CIA agent, Maya, who was recruited by the government right out of high school, is assigned to the case and she pursues Bin Laden with steely determination for nearly a decade. Despite facing setbacks, Maya remains determined to compete her mission, but is challenged by a labyrinth of false information, the loss of close friends and associates and watching the torture of detainees in an attempt to gather information. Indeed, Maya is looking for the proverbial needle in the haystack and it takes much time and energy to garner any actionable intelligence.

Maya's frustration comes to the surface on occasion, much to the chagrin of her superior, Joseph Bradley (Kyle Chandler), who finds himself in her line of fire. Maya is apparently valuable enough to escape censure and keep her job. That is particularly clear in one scene when she is literally screaming at Bradley and threatening him with possible legal action. In the end, Maya always seems to get what she wants, thanks to her fierce dedication and determination. She often finds herself greatly outnumbered by her male peers, but she always stands strong, not matter what. While she may not be the most likable character, Maya commands respect from viewers who will come to realize that she is the best at what she does.

Somehow Maya manages to stay alive through her decade long mission to find Bin Laden. Attempts are made on her life and she is in almost constant danger when traveling overseas, but yet she prevails and eventually obtains information that she feels will lead to Bin Laden. Maya's certainty helps convince high ranking officials to plan a raid on a compound in Pakistan where they suspect the leader of Al-Queda may be living. A team of Navy Seals are then chosen to participate in the raid and the rest, as they say, is history.

Kathryn Bigelow's superior direction will leave viewers on the edge of their seats throughout the film. She might even be considered the new master of suspense, especially during the final part of the film when viewers know what the outcome will be, but are completely invested in what is going on during the raid on the compound. Ben Affleck was able to produce similar suspenseful results with Argo, but he was snubbed by Oscar voters, too. I even found myself holding my breathe during a few scenes when the suspense threatens to literally overwhelm viewers. Mark Boal's screenplay is also outstanding and partly serves as a powerful character study of a seemingly invincible woman.

That woman, Maya, is portrayed with searing intensity by Jessica Chastain, who has pieced together an amazing and memorable resume over the past two years with roles in The Help, Take Shelter and The Tree of Life. Chastain is clearly the star of the film, but she is ably supported by Jason Clarke as Dan, a fellow CIA agent and interrogator, James Gandolfini as Leon Panetta, and the aforementioned Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights). The members of the Navy Seal team do not appear until the final act, but they leave a lasting impression and consist of Joel Edgerton (Warrior), the team leader, Chris Pratt (Parks and Recreation) as Justin, and Taylor Kinney (Chicago Fire) as Jared.

Zero Dark Thirty is the best film I have seen (so far) that was released in 2012. While it is not easy to watch, I think it is an important effort that highlights the considerable struggle to find Bin Laden and take apart a terrorist organization. Zero Dark Thirty is based on real events, but uses a mixture of facts and dramatizations to tell the powerful story of woman who is determined to complete her mission successfully and who believes that she has been spared so that she may do just that. That kind of certainty is hard to argue with and while some may question her methods, her success speaks for itself.