Zero Dark Thirty
Columbia Pictures | Release Date: December 19, 2012
6.9
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 1268 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
879
Mixed:
190
Negative:
199
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User Reviews

User scoreBy dateMost helpful
9
shumatJul 2, 2023
nice film to watch with all family and the final was really really nice i recomend It for everybody
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3
imthenoobApr 26, 2023
The talented cast is buried under a mess of a script that fails to tell a coherent story.
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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5
BabaRoogaNov 2, 2022
Ok movie, but wasn't all that interesting, at least for me. Wouldn't watch it a second time.
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7
All_ButTrU4Aug 23, 2022
An unrelenting tense military thriller revolving around the search for Osama Bin Laden. It focuses on Cia agent Maya who is willing to do whatever to find Bin Laden resorts to progressively cruel means to do so. The movie has been rightfullyAn unrelenting tense military thriller revolving around the search for Osama Bin Laden. It focuses on Cia agent Maya who is willing to do whatever to find Bin Laden resorts to progressively cruel means to do so. The movie has been rightfully critiqued for it's pro - torture propaganda and bias patriotism. This movie is above average in cinematography, script and pacing but it's not great. In fact it plays it incredibly safe and feels like a really long but good episode of homeland.… Expand
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2
Richard552Aug 10, 2022
No information leading to the location of bin Laden was obtained via torture.
$1 to buy a Netflix account, Google search: vtvshare
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7
MaxwooApr 12, 2022
Realistic, cool, and in command of the environment, parts of Zero Dark Thirty may make you snooze a little, but the representation of the conflict and capturing of the action will undoubtedly take your breath away.
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10
AssPussiMar 8, 2022
Zero Dark Thirty is precise, definitive filmmaking, yet Bigelow refuses to hand over easy answers. Some people call that evasion. I call it the ultimate despair.
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5
JJ2FAS4UJan 4, 2022
----------------------------------4.7/10-----------------------------------
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8
NickTheCritickDec 4, 2021
A masterfully shot slow paced movie that explores step by step all the journey that brought to Osama Bin Laden capture and death concentrating both on the CIA work and US army mission. It's a patient and long exploration of the whole processA masterfully shot slow paced movie that explores step by step all the journey that brought to Osama Bin Laden capture and death concentrating both on the CIA work and US army mission. It's a patient and long exploration of the whole process that may be not everybody's cup of tea but objectively a good movie.… Expand
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7
dario12Sep 6, 2021
Zero Dark Thirty is one good movie that shows effort of one woman that tries to capture Osama Bin Laden together with her collegues and teammates.
Story here for me was rather ok and even though some pacing was maybe tiny bit slow in secondZero Dark Thirty is one good movie that shows effort of one woman that tries to capture Osama Bin Laden together with her collegues and teammates.
Story here for me was rather ok and even though some pacing was maybe tiny bit slow in second act , I still didnt mind that to much.
Characters were solid even if we didnt found out nothing about them but that was somewhat expecting for my side.
So this film is one solid work about a big mission and final goal.… Expand
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10
geewahJan 14, 2021
One 2012's best movies.
A brilliant, unnerving and tension filled telling of the biggest man hunt ever.
Must see.
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8
banana27Dec 17, 2020
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Very little action, though good acting from all of the characters. I feel like it was definitely longer than it should’ve been, making some scenes boring and unnecessary. Some parts of the story are a little confusing, and the lack of continuous occurrences from some of the characters make it hard for me to get attached or connect to anyone (I wasn’t particularly sad when Jessica died). Overall good plot and story though, since it’s based on (hopefully) true events, but again some things were unnecessarily long and I think they could’ve improved that.… Expand
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9
Thepointe7Oct 14, 2020
Absolutely excellent film. The anticipation for what you ultimately know will happen but watch the process build and build with the characters makes this film one for the ages.
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7
MahmusSep 25, 2020
While the writing can leave quite a bit to be desired (especially during the first half), the film mostly makes up for it with a much stronger second half, an excellent climactic sequence and a consistently strong performance from Jessica Chastain.
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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7
Movie_FreakAug 26, 2020
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I think this is a slightly overrated film. Zero Dark Thirty doesn't quite live up to it's brilliant predecessor, The Hurt Locker but still proves to be a thrilling enough ride. Jessica Chastain gives a great lead performance and the action sequences are handled superbly. The sound effects and editing are really good and it leads up to a sensational final act. However, that is really only when the film pushes itself to take some actual risks and is consistently exciting. The film moves in an extrodinarily slow pace until 1 and half hours into it. Kathryn Bigelow does do a great job of lacing those slow moments with sequences of the actual action taking place. But the sequences in which she was just sitting in the office and trying to search for Bin Laden just didn't captivate me or thrill me as much as other films would. It was a slow ride until halfway into it. Despite that, Zero Dark Thirty relies on a brilliantly made third act and an unforgettable Jessica Chastain performance to thrill viewers… Expand
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0
DronewolfAug 1, 2020
To be honest, I was initially suckered into this movie because the trailer I saw was gunfire and explosions and I'm a sucker for actions movies like that. When I ended up watching it, it was just an American propaganda movie with a lot ofTo be honest, I was initially suckered into this movie because the trailer I saw was gunfire and explosions and I'm a sucker for actions movies like that. When I ended up watching it, it was just an American propaganda movie with a lot of talking and arguing and other BS. All the gunfire happened pretty much at the end and it was so short. Also, Jessica Chastain is so freaking unbearable in this movie.… Expand
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8
MrKaptakdaMar 25, 2020
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Interesting movie.

Never seen much from the hunt on Osama Bin Laden apart from some NatGeo documentaries. Especially the first interrogation scene was quite a suprise. Brutal.

Then it dumbles down untill a suicide bomber kills a handfull of CIA operatives in an army base. Luckily the obsession of the cute redhead CIA agent with OBL fills up the scenes in between the action lacking movie.

It ends with the SEAL raid on OBL's compound. Good movie which portrays the hunt for OBL by the CIA.… Expand
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6
HotelCentralMar 1, 2020
Had this film been about hunting down anyone besides Osama bin Laden it would have been unbearably dull, not because it's lacking in action, but because it's lacking, period. It relies entirely on the viewer's emotional response to theHad this film been about hunting down anyone besides Osama bin Laden it would have been unbearably dull, not because it's lacking in action, but because it's lacking, period. It relies entirely on the viewer's emotional response to the events of 9/11 and frankly I would rather have watched a one-hour documentary than a "dramatization" with a runtime on the long side of two and a half hours.

Things that irked me: The CIA station chief in Kabul isn't identified as the station chief till the film is halfway over. A bomb goes off in a hotel and I expected a bomb to go off because it was the only time I'd seen the main character, Maya, sitting down in a hotel restaurant. Another bomb goes off at a US base and I predicted that too because another CIA person insisted that the guy entering the base not be checked at the gate (and Maya wasn't present to suffer the effects of a bomb blast). The only time we see Maya leave the US Embassy by herself there's a car waiting right outside the "back gate" (or whatever) and it's full of guys waiting to blast her with automatic rifles. And then yet another CIA guy who is never really identified walks into a room full of CIA people and chews them out for failing to find bin Laden up till that point in the movie.

I suppose that if I forced myself to choose one main problem with the film it would have to be the lack of interesting characters. Maya is an analyst, apparently, and she's determined to see bin Laden hunted down and killed. And that's what happens. The end.

Also, there's a severe lack of story. Our heroes interrogate all kinds of people and then the critical step comes to light when some CIA person, never actually named, goes through "all the files" very carefully and discovers some guy they thought dead might actually be alive and so they hunt him down and, surprise, he leads them to bin Laden, or at least the house where they think bin Laden might be occupying.

Yes, we see lots of computers, lots of satellite images, and lots of stuff about how phone calls can be traced across the globe. Yes, we spend some time in the streets trying to track down some courier guy talking on his cell phone. Yes, we eventually end up in the compound where yet another helicopter on a critical mission malfunctions and crashes. But none of it makes for movie gold.

And ultimately there's no definite proof that bin Laden is hiding out where they think he is hiding out. It's chains of logic. It's "well this guy wouldn't be doing that unless X, Y, and Z, and therefore it's got bin Laden's face all over it."

If you're interested in the bin Laden saga check out some documentaries and leave this turkey alone.… Expand
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8
AndremaxFeb 21, 2020
The merit about this picture is the same as "Social Network" and "Chernobyl": its rawness and anti-romantic way of telling a real story.
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9
miccaelDec 16, 2019
Very good but very specific movie. it's not easy watch, almost like a documentary. Intense scenes, very realistic portrayal from what I understand. Not your typical shooty-shooty.
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0
Shadow1909Nov 20, 2019
As if they worked 10 years to catch one guy with whom they were already working with, that's a joke =)).
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6
BM85Sep 16, 2019
PROS: impressive production; absorbing camera work and action; highly invested acting of a determined and intense female CIA field officer; fitting soundtrack; well paced and intelligent storytelling of a decade-long pursuit.
CONS: portraysPROS: impressive production; absorbing camera work and action; highly invested acting of a determined and intense female CIA field officer; fitting soundtrack; well paced and intelligent storytelling of a decade-long pursuit.
CONS: portrays CIA officers as "heroes" trying to defeat the "bad guys"; makes a disturbing and misleading link between using torture and obtaining needed and reliable information, falsely implying that torture can be justified as an effective form of intelligence gathering; the statement “based on first-hand accounts of actual events” is deceptive because it leads viewers to believe the story is accurate and that the information obtained during or after the use of torture played a critical role in locating UBL, when that's not the case*.

*In January of 2013, senators John McCain, Dianne Feinstein and Carl Levin sent a letter to Acting CIA Director Michael Morell explaining that after a review of more than six million pages of CIA records, they made the following determination:
"The CIA did not first learn about the existence of the Usama Bin Laden courier from CIA detainees subjected to coercive interrogation techniques. Nor did the CIA discover the courier's identity from detainees subjected to coercive techniques. No detainee reported on the courier’s full name or specific whereabouts, and no detainee identified the compound in which Usama Bin Laden was hidden. Instead, the CIA learned of the existence of the courier, his true name and location through means unrelated to the CIA detention and interrogation program."… Expand
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6
JoeCoolJun 19, 2019
Nothing about this movie warrants anything over a 7/10. Acting is OK, but the 95 critics rating is more out of fear of being called a terrorist supporter or simply being labelled non-patriotic. It's a hunt, black sites, waterboarding all theNothing about this movie warrants anything over a 7/10. Acting is OK, but the 95 critics rating is more out of fear of being called a terrorist supporter or simply being labelled non-patriotic. It's a hunt, black sites, waterboarding all the things that supposedly never happened all leading up to the op in which they take out Bin Laden.
As a movie it only serves as a reminder of what happened. It's not particularly entertaining, and not worth watching a second time.… Expand
2 of 2 users found this helpful20
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10
IrishReviewsMay 23, 2019
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I was 16 when i watched this film around two years ago, and all I could say to describe this film is one word: Damn! The film is amazingly written, has an amazing ensemble cast, including people who either I never heard of before this film (i.E. Jason Clarke, Jessica Chastain), to people who I've heard of and was surprised to see in this film (I.E. Chris Pratt, James Gandolfini). This film is filmed like you were watching a documentary on the hunt for Bin Laden. The whole film is intense, from the reports of the 9/11 attacks at the beginning, to the waterboarding scenes. To the different terrorist attacks portrayed on-screen, including one where I thought Maya was going to die. Even to the final raid on Bin Laden's compound. this film is Intense, emotional and very controversial. I recommend this film to everyone.… Expand
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10
LatinCritic13May 8, 2019
Zero Dark Thirty is an excellent film that is based on an actual event that impacted U.S. history and it safe to say that the use of narrative and technical design of this film worked naturally. And Jessica Chastain is a shining diamondZero Dark Thirty is an excellent film that is based on an actual event that impacted U.S. history and it safe to say that the use of narrative and technical design of this film worked naturally. And Jessica Chastain is a shining diamond throughout this whole film without a doubt. No wonder why Kathryn Bigelow is the best female director of all-time when pulling off such movies like this alongside with a terrific cast and crew that helped make Zero Dark Thirty happen.… Expand
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9
Jes1310Apr 24, 2019
Great movie that delivers. It is a truly exciting story of this ongoing manhunt. Jessica Chastain nails her part, and most of the other actors are awesome. Special mention to the torture victims, the seem so very allmost docu like.
Bigelow isGreat movie that delivers. It is a truly exciting story of this ongoing manhunt. Jessica Chastain nails her part, and most of the other actors are awesome. Special mention to the torture victims, the seem so very allmost docu like.
Bigelow is one of the most important female instructors, and Zero Dark Thirty, just helps to her already impressing cv.… Expand
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5
UncleWillardMar 12, 2019
No love for OBL and I'm glad he's dead. The shame is that the pursuit of him after 9/11 was sidetracked by the Iraq War, an unwarranted and unnecessary slog that has done no good to anyone involved. Kudos to the people who brought him toNo love for OBL and I'm glad he's dead. The shame is that the pursuit of him after 9/11 was sidetracked by the Iraq War, an unwarranted and unnecessary slog that has done no good to anyone involved. Kudos to the people who brought him to justice, specifically the members of the SEAL team who took the biggest risks, but what about the intelligence community? This film highlights the length we were willing to go to find one man. The rules we broke to do that. If you're putting this that high up on the list you're either a) condoning that behavior or b) this movie was so well shot and acted, the subject matter was irrelevant. I can't see either. It's a wrote techno-thriller that happens to be about true events. I'm dubious as to him being buried at see too.… Expand
1 of 2 users found this helpful11
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8
RuyWangDec 22, 2018
The movie is good overall and Jessica Chastain does a great job, the pace isn't always the best tho and it doesn't really hit the climax until the final 25 minutes. Still, a good thriller about a very important event in our history.
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6
PumpedupKicksDec 14, 2018
Zero Dark Thirty is a long, and sometimes boring, movie of the capture of osama bin laden. The movie has a very promising storyline but i feel it was unnecessarily dragged and could have had a runtime of just over 2 hours. Its slow pace gaveZero Dark Thirty is a long, and sometimes boring, movie of the capture of osama bin laden. The movie has a very promising storyline but i feel it was unnecessarily dragged and could have had a runtime of just over 2 hours. Its slow pace gave away my interest and that's where it took a beating. the final manhunt mission is too dark to be seen (literally!) and i didn't enjoy it either.… Expand
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8
RobertWangOct 28, 2018
The movie is good and Jessica Chastain does a great job, however I'm surprised it got a 95 on Metacritic, the pace isn't always the best and it doesn't really hit the climax until the final 15 minutes. Still, a good thriller about a veryThe movie is good and Jessica Chastain does a great job, however I'm surprised it got a 95 on Metacritic, the pace isn't always the best and it doesn't really hit the climax until the final 15 minutes. Still, a good thriller about a very important event in our history.… Expand
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0
YeetusMcGeetusOct 24, 2018
This movie is honestly the US's revenge porn against muslims for 9/11. Really awful, heavy-handed, and above all, boring. Do not waste your time with this one.
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7
ahmedaiman9999Sep 28, 2018
By far, this movie has the most gripping and riveting story among all political thrillers I've seen so far. I can't believe that I was so invested watching a movie from one of my least favorite genres. That's largely due to Boal and Bigelow'sBy far, this movie has the most gripping and riveting story among all political thrillers I've seen so far. I can't believe that I was so invested watching a movie from one of my least favorite genres. That's largely due to Boal and Bigelow's intelligent script that offers a knotted, nuanced, realistic, and somewhat honest look into a real story about war on terror. Each small detail that leads to another is more convincing than the last. And however the plot is very intricate, I never felt that it was so convoluted that can be difficult to follow.

Of course, we get a one-sided look into the real events, but the movie didn't try to be patriotic at all. There are quite a lot of torture scenes at the beginning that are really intense and brutal.

The use of hand-held camera Kathryn Bigelow famous for did more harm than good in Zero Dark Thirty. Aside from that I often find the documentary style so distracting and also so obtrusive, Bigelow's reliance on this style deprived Zero Dark Thirty from being one of the best-looking movies of the decade. For Greig Fraser, the director of photography, did an amazing job capturing some of the most stunning images I've seen recently.
That being said, this very documentary style gave the movie a somewhat realistic look that only paid off in two situations; the interrogation and torture scenes, and a couple of surprising sequences that are truly heart-pounding. The thing that reminded me a little bit of Villeneuve's Sicario.

Speaking of Sicario, this movie suffers from the same issue I had with Sicario. Which is giving so much attention, nay , priority to the moral aspect of the protagonist. But the major issue is that, Maya, our main character, is an entirely flawed and poorly-written character. Without delving into details, there are central changes happened to the character that are as clichéd as they are contradictory, and very very hard to swallow. Putting the blame on Chastain is a crime I won't commit. As she gave one of her best performances in her career. An Oscar-nominated performance that could have been Oscar-worthy unless it was dedicated to an otherwise terribly-written role that made Chastain herself confused as much as I was.

The editing in general is pretty elegant and masterful. But the sound editing is what stand out for me. This movie has one of the best uses of the J-cut ever!

Nail-biting, nuanced, and thoroughly captivating, Zero Dark Thirty sees Kathryn Bigelow delivering one of the most interesting based-on-true-story movies that is, sadly, lacks a well-wrought, and relatable protagonist.

(7.5/10)… Expand
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8
NinteundoApr 21, 2018
A film about fighting terrorists but without the nationalistic **** a lot of similar films have.
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5
amheretojudgeFeb 20, 2018
kinda like gandalf..

Zero Dark Thirty Between all the factual accuracy and controversies and unfortunate events the film fails to bind all of these into one entertaining drama resulting into an exhausting experience of 156 minutes of justkinda like gandalf..

Zero Dark Thirty

Between all the factual accuracy and controversies and unfortunate events the film fails to bind all of these into one entertaining drama resulting into an exhausting experience of 156 minutes of just plain old news. Zero Dark Thirty is of course written explicitly and executed with conviction but there is not a single lose thread for the audience to hang on to it until the curtain drops. Jessica Chastain holds on to her part of the role tightly till the end and is convincing throughout being aware of the pressure she has on this project since she is the only glue that binds it all and if they'd have given that character more gravitas and depth along with some high pitched dramatic sequences, it would have just worked. Zero Dark Thirty is the slow pill that takes its time offering weird sensations and some pain along the long road and then results into being the same old pain killer.… Expand
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3
The3AcademySinsJan 24, 2018
Zero Dark Thirty is not a film that has aged gracefully at all. The plot is incredibly slow, and feels more like a revenge porn than anything else. The story is incoherent and bogged down with unnecessary characters that you care nothingZero Dark Thirty is not a film that has aged gracefully at all. The plot is incredibly slow, and feels more like a revenge porn than anything else. The story is incoherent and bogged down with unnecessary characters that you care nothing about. The hunt for Osama Bin Laden should have been an exciting and engaging film, whereas Zero Dark Thirty is a bore.… Expand
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8
daviddelnorte23Jan 19, 2018
Es una genial película, aunque este tipo de cine tan pausado y tan reiterante en operaciones militares en el líbano no le acabo de coger el punto. Eso sí, la parte final de la película es una pasada. Esta señora es una MÁQUINA. Doña Kathryn.
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7
DomgwyDec 20, 2017
It’s almost impossible for anyone to separate the politics of the War on Terror from Katherine Bigelow’s Oscar nominated drama. The film certainly pulls no punches when it comes to the representation of real world events, from the chillingIt’s almost impossible for anyone to separate the politics of the War on Terror from Katherine Bigelow’s Oscar nominated drama. The film certainly pulls no punches when it comes to the representation of real world events, from the chilling opening using voice recordings from 9/11 victims you know you are in for a rough ride.

First and foremost the film is in no way a glamorised depiction of the hunt for Osama bin Laden or the CIA operatives that carried it out. This is not an air punching salute to the American flag in the style of Michael Bay’s much derived Pearl Harbour. In the opening scenes of the film we are introduced to our main protagonists, our heroes, as they brutally torture a detainee. The camera does not pan away, we do not see a cell door close followed by muffled screams, we see in full the extent of the ‘harsh tactics’ and their effects on the prisoner.

This introduction to Jessica Chastain’s Maya and Jason Clarke’s Dan is bold to say the least. Usual Hollywood fair would introduce these characters within a family setting helping you identify and sympathise with them as the film goes on. Not here. Here we have the opposite effect, for the first third of the film I personally found it very hard to like or root for Maya.

This lack of empathy towards the character could be exactly what Bigelow and writer Mark Boal were going for. By presenting the facts, events and people involved in this story as dispassionately as possible the filmmakers have allowed the audience to draw their own conclusions. Much like William James (Jeremy Renner) from the Oscar winning The Hurt Locker, some audience members will consider the protagonist a hero others will consider her a dangerous and often arrogant anti-hero.

As the plot slowly unfolds it would be very easy to get lost in the technical jargon of the CIA characters as they meticulously sift through information, set up meets with informants and follow paper trails. However by keeping the focus on a central lead in the search (which Maya becomes personally obsessed with) Bigelow keeps a clear narrative that helps to tie together an incredibly complex manhunt with the tense final raid at the films climax.

The Hurt Locker proved Bigelow’s talent for building suspense and that talent once again shines through. The fact that the audience knows how events play out and is still on the edge of their seats during the films infamous finale is testament to the skill of the filmmaking on show.

Above all Zero Dark Thirty‘s greatest achievement is that it captures the essence of the War on Terror. From the minute details of intelligence gathering to the world changing horrific events that took place, Bigelow shows a sensitivity and frankness that will see the film endure as a drama documenting the zeitgeist of the post-9/11 world. I saw the film in a small screen at a cinema less than 10 miles from the centre of London. When the image of a red double decker bus along with the date 7th July 2005 appeared on screen you could feel the atmosphere in the room change. The War on Terror continues to effect the lives of millions in one way or another. In Zero Dark Thirty audiences all over the world have an intelligent, honest and at times brutal thriller which will provoke debate and discussion for years to come.… Expand
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6
drlowdonAug 29, 2017
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Reviewing these movies based on real life events is always a difficult proposition as said events will often be exaggerated or changed for dramatic purposes. Generally I’m content to go along with these dramatisations providing, as was the case with A Beautiful Mind and 12 Years a Slave for example, the core of the story is kept intact and the end result is an entertaining movie. Zero, Dark, Thirty meets one of those criteria in that it made for a tense and interesting movie and it does a great job of condensing ten years’ worth of events into just two and a half hours. The issue for me however is the way it ignores the wider implications of America’s actions during their hunt for Bin Laden. For example the opening scene that shows a prisoner being subjected to torture, including the use of waterboarding, yields vital information that eventually (albeit 10 years later) leads to the location of Bin Laden. There has been much debate online as to whether or not this was actually the case but, whether it is accurate or not, the movie makes no attempt to look at the moral issues of torture or show how torture leads to unreliable intel at best (not to mention the fact that innocent people were tortured). Another issue that is largely ignored is the United States use of drone strikes with just one short scene involving protestors in Pakistan, one where they are not even the focus, to show the damage caused to innocent people. Looked at solely as a movie Zero, Dark, Thirty is very good, I’m just personally concerned that anyone watching it could be left with the very misguided impression that killing Bin Laden didn’t have significant consequences. In fact if you want a more realistic idea of the systematic torture of prisoners during this period I’d recommend watching the documentary Taxi to the Dark Side.… Expand
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0
WranApr 9, 2017
This movie, while based on true events, is full of trite and self-serving propaganda. It's sad to see people praising a movie that is clearly built on lies. Tired of Hollywood's shallow, White House glamourizing propaganda films. This justThis movie, while based on true events, is full of trite and self-serving propaganda. It's sad to see people praising a movie that is clearly built on lies. Tired of Hollywood's shallow, White House glamourizing propaganda films. This just another Hollywood propaganda movie.… Expand
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0
NousernamesDec 27, 2016
I don't know how so many people gave this good reviews. The acting is painful, the writing horrid, the camera angles are trying to be artsy and failing. Don't watch this movie unless you like to watch awkwardly shot torture scenes followed byI don't know how so many people gave this good reviews. The acting is painful, the writing horrid, the camera angles are trying to be artsy and failing. Don't watch this movie unless you like to watch awkwardly shot torture scenes followed by long discussions...about said torture.… Expand
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10
UNARMED_JORDAug 31, 2016
brilliant, emotive and filmed without flaw zero dark thirty chronicles one of the most difficult army operations in perfect fashion, oscar worthy quite easily
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8
virtualPresenceJul 28, 2016
Realistic footage from a real world & very realistic characters and very good story this are the main reasons I liked film very much. I is very good film and has also values added as 'documentary/biography'....Please watch this film... ThankRealistic footage from a real world & very realistic characters and very good story this are the main reasons I liked film very much. I is very good film and has also values added as 'documentary/biography'....Please watch this film... Thank you very much… Expand
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9
EpicLadySpongeFeb 21, 2016
Zero Dark Thirty is entertaining and the best way to use such methods to keep a movie from winning a whole load of awards. You'll enjoy this one more often if you keep on watching this movie a lot.
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8
AquaMorphFeb 1, 2016
This film had fantastic writing with a strong emphasis on directing. It is gripping from begin to end. You feel for the protagonist as her life pinpoints to one goal. The torture scenes are haunting and makes you question if the ends justifyThis film had fantastic writing with a strong emphasis on directing. It is gripping from begin to end. You feel for the protagonist as her life pinpoints to one goal. The torture scenes are haunting and makes you question if the ends justify the ends. The political undertones of the film are told subtly with masterful skill.… Expand
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7
Meth-dudeJul 3, 2015
I had pretty high expectations considering it's a 95%,and I was pretty disappointed.The acting is flawless and the photography is really good but the movie gets pretty boring.The last 20 minutes were really good and are the reason I give thisI had pretty high expectations considering it's a 95%,and I was pretty disappointed.The acting is flawless and the photography is really good but the movie gets pretty boring.The last 20 minutes were really good and are the reason I give this movie a 7 instead of a 6.… Expand
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0
He_Who_DwellsMay 26, 2015
Doesn't play Aesop Rock's 'Zero Dark Thirty' in the end. LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
1 of 2 users found this helpful11
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0
OzyMar 2, 2015
So, moral of the story - Two people arent getting along. One tells the other off. The other slaps the other. Then the slapped person blows up the other ones house. Then the house owner Kills the other. This is a great lesson for our kids.So, moral of the story - Two people arent getting along. One tells the other off. The other slaps the other. Then the slapped person blows up the other ones house. Then the house owner Kills the other. This is a great lesson for our kids. Hate violence kill bomb and cool stuff.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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6
borderlinefilmsFeb 5, 2015
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Enhanced Rhetorical Techniques

Bigelow's great. I admire her. But I'm still not sure where she stands on the use of torture in the CIA and as movie entertainment. She never calls it torture. She uses the euphemistic acronym EIT: Enhanced Interrogation Techniques. Want more? How about EQM: Enriched Questioning Methods. AES: Augmented Enquiry Simulations. Or just call it what it is. T&A: Torture and Answers. When asked if torture effectively led to the whereabouts of Bin Laden, she is deliberately vague but clearly states that due to a compressed movie plot, 0Dark30 made it seem like it did. In her story, the victims of torture appear to be treated better than I imagined. They never gave misleading answers so the torture would stop. They never coughed up what the interrogator wanted to hear. I got the feeling that the torture was somehow redeeming for them. Like an intense workout. No pain, no gain. And even though it was implied that the captives wouldn't be around to identify their inquisitors, afterwards they were rewarded with tender words and hummus. The glossing over these interrogative ordeals sweetens the message of torture as an indispensable necessity. The movie begins with torture and ends with the capture of OBL. The cause and effect is unmistakable.

That the liberal media is jumping all over this is no surprise. That the picture has been snubbed at the Oscars is also telling. Bigelow offers us a very well-crafted movie that celebrates GWB's overtly hostile America.

After watching 0D30 and reassessing Hurt Locker, I'm impressed by the way Bigelow manages to document the crazy courageous misfits needed to engage in wartime activity. She is a sharp and audacious filmmaker, and another GOP apologist. It wouldn't surprise me to find her at some future Republican Convention arguing with an empty chair.… Expand
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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2
LeatherwoodJan 3, 2015
This movie sucks, and the end was left of with a women sitting thinking she did everything cause she found the location of this man even though in real like several people figured were Ben Ladins location was. And also seal team six and theThis movie sucks, and the end was left of with a women sitting thinking she did everything cause she found the location of this man even though in real like several people figured were Ben Ladins location was. And also seal team six and the lead female role had several occupations so they could be the main people in the movie instead of giving credit to the dozens of people that actually helped find him and kill him. dumb, boring, slow, no action, and Spoiler Alert Osama Dies at the end.… Expand
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10
AxeTDec 12, 2014
One of if not the best picture from a couple years ago. It's bigger, better, and more important than
the massively over-rated "The Hurt Locker" with a far greater narrative drive, brilliant music score
and much better photography. TheOne of if not the best picture from a couple years ago. It's bigger, better, and more important than
the massively over-rated "The Hurt Locker" with a far greater narrative drive, brilliant music score
and much better photography. The true story of the biggest man hunt of our time as told here
resonates in a powerful and disturbing way.… Expand
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9
MarickDec 1, 2014
It is one of the best films. The concept of the film is awesome, especially since it is based on realitate.Merita seen anyway. Very good movie about the army.
0 of 3 users found this helpful03
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9
heeldavidNov 21, 2014
A political thriller that outshines the impressive "Argo". Kathryn Bigelow shows us why she is one of the best working directors in the world. The tears in Maya's eyes at in the last sequence of the film are just so hunting. Great PerformanceA political thriller that outshines the impressive "Argo". Kathryn Bigelow shows us why she is one of the best working directors in the world. The tears in Maya's eyes at in the last sequence of the film are just so hunting. Great Performance by Jessica Chastain… Expand
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8
vikesh2206Nov 10, 2014
Flawed but fantastic, Zero Dark Thirty is intense and has a keen eye for detail and a very complex central character, brilliantly acfted by Jessica Chastain
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10
beingryanjudeSep 1, 2014
A film that every American owes their country to see. A rare look into the complexities of the military and a one-of-a-kind mission. Zero Dark Thirty is the best film of 2012 and along with it a stunning performance from Jessica Chastain.
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0
evokingsAug 15, 2014
this movie is like trying to hold you back from getting osama, every annoying little thing that stopped people from catching him was conveyed before any action scenes are even showed, the whole movie stunk.
I pray for the immediate victimsthis movie is like trying to hold you back from getting osama, every annoying little thing that stopped people from catching him was conveyed before any action scenes are even showed, the whole movie stunk.
I pray for the immediate victims of 911, and the innocent victims of the aftermath and the wars caused as a result.

that being said... ... ... This movie is boring, men are not portrayed as men in this movie they are all mice, I mean the guys in the movie are all like wimpy, and stereo typical, not all men act like that, but in the movie like 99% do. I hate the way it was directed the camera shakes all over the place at bits, and they make osama out to be a vampire or something...
[no that does not happen in the movie that would be entertaining]
this movie is garbage it is not a war movie it is a bad documentary made into a movie that bores you.

in the commercials for this movie they show all the action bits and the scarf wearing secret agents with [aka47 looking guns], doing gangster style hip hop walking to their enemy just stupid looking.

Man I like war movies so if thats what you are looking for watch the lone surviver or saving private ryan, cause this movie is more about watching a geeky woman and stereo typical dumb hillbilly men with guns. we don't want to be bored out of our minds we just want to see an action movie which is what was promised in many of the movie trailers don't fall for it, Its only like a few minutes of the movies ending thats even worth a mention and even then not worth it.… Expand
1 of 15 users found this helpful114
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2
NitishAug 14, 2014
I really feel funny when movies like this is rated so good my all the critics, why the hell they are so desperately promoting the American propaganda..? Where they lost their real sense of Art in case of such movies.
This is the one of theI really feel funny when movies like this is rated so good my all the critics, why the hell they are so desperately promoting the American propaganda..? Where they lost their real sense of Art in case of such movies.
This is the one of the most boring and worthless movie ever created in World history but still rated so good by all the critics.… Expand
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8
BradySmithJun 1, 2014
I originally gave this a 9. The movie has undeniably expert craftsmanship, is convincingly acted, especially on Chastain's part, and can be very tense. The dialogue is convincing nearly all of the time and a gritty, realistic textureI originally gave this a 9. The movie has undeniably expert craftsmanship, is convincingly acted, especially on Chastain's part, and can be very tense. The dialogue is convincing nearly all of the time and a gritty, realistic texture permeates the whole movie. The reason I lowered my score however is that there are some very tedious sections towards the middle of the movie. Strangely, they aren't the office scenes that are boring, but some shady dealings, and a drawn out chase scene which ends without almost anything actually happening. Overall though, it's still a very exciting and engaging movie which I still highly recommend. It's also very thought provoking, and challenging at times. I have a feeling that my score will waver up and down for a while into the future. It's a very hard movie to critique.… Expand
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9
SilverscreensnoMay 4, 2014
So, I realise I'm late to the party in regards to this film but better late than never, right?

On the surface of it, you can be forgiven for automatically comparing Zero Dark Thirty to Bigelow's other 'war' film, The Hurt Locker; you couldSo, I realise I'm late to the party in regards to this film but better late than never, right?

On the surface of it, you can be forgiven for automatically comparing Zero Dark Thirty to Bigelow's other 'war' film, The Hurt Locker; you could be forgiven but you would be entirely wrong! The two films are completely different yet both are equally compelling, just for contrasting reasons.

The movie starts with audio only; calls between victims and the emergency services during the 2001 attack on the World Trade Center. It's heartbreaking and horrifying without actually showing you anything. From here we jump two years and we are introduced to Jessica Chastain's character, Maya. Bigelow and writer, Mark Boal, give the audience a strong female character; a single minded woman who stops at nothing until she gets what she wants. Chastain's portrayal is a marvel; from her first 'interrogation' to the final moments, Maya's growth as a character, in strength and resolve, is utterly convincing. The only downside is that the audience never gets beneath the surface. Bigelow sacrifices who Maya is for what she does. However Jessica Chastain is so powerful in her role that the viewer will follow her story anyway without question.

The death of Bin Laden is almost always told as the story of the brave men who stormed his compound, yet we don't get to meet this group until two hours into the film. This film isn't about these people, it's about what went on behind the scenes to allow such a mission to take place; the many layers of bureaucracy and years of research Maya and company endure just to get a meeting with the Director of the C.I.A (played by James Gandolfini).

Some of the torture scenes make for uncomfortable viewing no matter what your opinion of it's usage. Bigelow pulls no punches in her direction and creates a visually beautiful film amid harsh environments. 
The final half hour, the storming of Bin Laden's refuge which is shot almost in real time, is fascinating as the director switches between night vision goggles and the drab natural light of the compound, drawing the audience in and creating a tense final scene (despite the fact that we all know the ending of this story).… Expand
0 of 2 users found this helpful02
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8
BigDamnHeroMay 2, 2014
Good but not quite as good as The Hurt Locker. If the characters were more interesting I may have become more invested in the film's story but a very memorable and tense climax makes up for it.
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9
Viper8787Apr 18, 2014
A really good true story that kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. Acting was incredible, Jessica Chastain deserved the Oscar for best actress in my opinion for this role but didn't end up getting it. Still a greatly acted movie. ItA really good true story that kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. Acting was incredible, Jessica Chastain deserved the Oscar for best actress in my opinion for this role but didn't end up getting it. Still a greatly acted movie. It ran long but there were just the right amount of action and drama mixed in to keep you into it for the whole time.… Expand
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8
OfficialMar 8, 2014
Jessica Chastain's character development was great, but what about the other characters? Hmm... However, set aside that fact, and we have a realistic, intelligent and by the end, suspenseful movie.
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9
eagleeyevikingJan 16, 2014
Flawed but fantastic, Zero Dark Thirty is intense and has a keen eye for detail and a very complex central character, brilliantly acfted by Jessica Chastain.
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8
python2000Jan 3, 2014
You would expect a movie about the hunt for Osama Bin Laden to have a blockbuster director and an ensemble cast. Zero Dark Thirty does not have either of those things. It has a few big names James Gandolfini, Mark Strong, Jessica Chastain butYou would expect a movie about the hunt for Osama Bin Laden to have a blockbuster director and an ensemble cast. Zero Dark Thirty does not have either of those things. It has a few big names James Gandolfini, Mark Strong, Jessica Chastain but no one hugely popular. The director was completely unknown to me before watching this. After watching this I might check out some of her other movies (The Hurt Locker). Because Zero Dark Thirty is amazing.
Every single cast member is Oscar worthy, even the actor playing Osama Bin Laden's dead corpse (who has a huge nose). Mark Strong is particularly awesome and should have got some more recognition for this performance, despite only having about 20 minutes of screen time.
The story while staying true to life, is exciting and never predictable. Alexandre Desplat's moving score perfectly fits the mood of every scene and may even have the power to make you cry. Lets just say that everything besides the dragged out runtime is perfect.
I highly recommend Zero Dark Thirty to everyone except people who get bored easily.… Expand
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10
Christopher_G2Dec 28, 2013
Zero Dark Thirty is an incredible achievement, and in my mind candidate for best film made so far this decade. It has brought about an important debate, but more significantly it covers ten years of the war on terror in prime fashion.Zero Dark Thirty is an incredible achievement, and in my mind candidate for best film made so far this decade. It has brought about an important debate, but more significantly it covers ten years of the war on terror in prime fashion. Chastain's Maya, a breathtaking performance of sheer will and determination, is one of the best of modern film acting male or female. Bigelow plays for high realism but she also knows how to create great drama by stretching but never breaking those confines. Every scene belongs for a purpose and never does it feel like one is missing; that in itself is an incredible achievement. Credit her direction, the cast, and the great script by Mark Boal.… Expand
1 of 2 users found this helpful11
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5
Patrick94Dec 28, 2013
Zero Dark Thirty 5/10. I'm giving this a 5 out of 10 because I'm not really sure what to think about it. With The Hurt Locker (Great movie BTW) there was a clear message that was put out there. With Zero Dark Thirty I think Kathryn BigelowZero Dark Thirty 5/10. I'm giving this a 5 out of 10 because I'm not really sure what to think about it. With The Hurt Locker (Great movie BTW) there was a clear message that was put out there. With Zero Dark Thirty I think Kathryn Bigelow did a complete cop-out to be perfectly blunt. She threw around all kinds of different issues in the movie, but never quite gave any of them a conclusion. In the end that's why people think this is a pro-American, pro-torture movie. I think what she wanted to do was give an unbiased, politically correct view on an topic that deserves the complete opposite. This is a very exhausting movie, not because of it's length, but because it's presented factually, which in turn makes all the characters involved not very likable IMO. BUT I have to say, that if you haven't seen it, that you must. I think everyone should watch this movie. I don't really have a reason, except for I guess that there is in fact an underlying message, that is perfectly encapsulated in Maya's face in the last seconds of the movie. You know that saying that goes "A picture is worth a thousand words"? I think those last few minutes of looking at Maya and Hakim's (Fares Fares) faces pretty much sum it all up.… Expand
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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3
cmykDec 24, 2013
A pimped-out political commercial. The actors seemed miscast and the 'story' a bit disjointed; more of a documentary than anything, and even then it felt so aloof without direction.
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3
DakBroadbentNov 29, 2013
First we meet two main characters; an anorexic redheaded woman and balding bearded man. For the first forty minutes the woman just stares at prisoners as they are screamed at and tortured by the man. After forty minutes the man disappearsFirst we meet two main characters; an anorexic redheaded woman and balding bearded man. For the first forty minutes the woman just stares at prisoners as they are screamed at and tortured by the man. After forty minutes the man disappears and the staring woman shares many far fetched ideas with her secret agent bosses about Usama Bin Laden. The bosses don't believe the staring woman and won't let her have her way. The staring woman screams at her bosses, insults them, and curses at them. A car bomb goes off outside a restaurant in which the staring woman is eating; the staring woman just stares.

A new lead in the hunt for Bin Laden develops. The staring woman curses at her bosses and coworkers and insults them. A CIA agent gets blown up. The staring woman cries then cusses out her bosses and coworkers and insults them. Finally after what seems like an eternity Usama Bin Laden's house is discovered. After thirty minutes of the staring woman generally being rude to everyone around her some soldiers show up and are told they are being sent a mission to kill someone who might be Bin Laden.

Like so many others in the movie the soldiers think the screaming woman is full of crap. When they politely question her belief that Bin Laden has been found she, in a surprise twist, insults them.
After another eternity of the woman screaming and staring there's finally some decent action as the soldiers raid bin laden's compound and history is made. After the raid the rude, arrogant, and apparently heartless main character, whom most of sane members of the audience stopped liking a long time ago, boards a C-130 and cries for some ambiguous reason and the film ends.

Easily one of the most boring, pretentious, and overlong movies I've ever seen. Would have rated it zero if not for the dramatic and enjoyable scenes of discovering Bin Laden's house and raiding it.… Expand
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7
FranzHcriticNov 28, 2013
A film that benefits from a well discussed and important event in the 21st century, but seems to be over-exaggerated due to Bigelow's early acclaim of 'Hurt Locker'. Jessica Chastain has a pragmatic eloquence in her role, that rarely aA film that benefits from a well discussed and important event in the 21st century, but seems to be over-exaggerated due to Bigelow's early acclaim of 'Hurt Locker'. Jessica Chastain has a pragmatic eloquence in her role, that rarely a thriller possesses, and her humanity and normality is shown towards the end, but I will not spoil it. 'Zero Dark Thirty' is more pensive than most modern-day war thrillers, but, like most, suffer from clichéd emotions and lack of true understanding from most of the chatracters.… Expand
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9
MovieGuysNov 17, 2013
Zero Dark Thirty, for the most part, is riveting, engaging, and ultimately satisfying, as it accurately portrays the hunt for Bin Laden. Great acting by Chastain. What would've made it even better is further editing and further character development.
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0
ZombiesTTSep 17, 2013
Worst movie I have ever wasted money on. I lost all faith in humanity when this garbage won awards and was given positive reviews. I hope no one actually thinks this is close to being realistic.
2 of 3 users found this helpful21
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10
ReviewsForFolksAug 29, 2013
Incredibly gripping. The movie perfectly shows how hard can a job at CIA be. Its truly one of those true-story movies that are worth watching. It doesnt focus so much on action, but rather on interesting dialogue. Im dont usually like whenIncredibly gripping. The movie perfectly shows how hard can a job at CIA be. Its truly one of those true-story movies that are worth watching. It doesnt focus so much on action, but rather on interesting dialogue. Im dont usually like when people talk for the most part of the movie but Zero Dark Thirty just did it right.… Expand
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5
oblique15Aug 3, 2013
Ok it happened in real life, but it didn`t make for a great movie. It was kind of long, and did pick up my interest at the end but still nothing special. It`s like a shiny Documentary and I don`t like documentaries.
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9
Nesbitt10Jul 10, 2013
"Zero Dark Thirty" lies between art and entertainment, realism and spectacle, effectively intertwining journalism and drama--resulting in a riveting film with provocative deliberations with reflection. As a cinematic experience, the film can"Zero Dark Thirty" lies between art and entertainment, realism and spectacle, effectively intertwining journalism and drama--resulting in a riveting film with provocative deliberations with reflection. As a cinematic experience, the film can be an undoubtedly punishing experience at times, given that U.S.-sanctioned torture figures prominently here, and has been flirting with controversy even before the film’s release. “Zero Dark Thirty” reunites the Oscar winning team of director-producer Kathryn Bigelow and writer/producer Mark Boal “The Hurt Locker” (2008) for the story of history's greatest manhunt for the world's most dangerous man.

Maya (Jessica Chastain) is a CIA operative and her only objective is the unrelenting pursuit of leads to uncover the whereabouts of Al Qaeda's leader, Osama Bin Laden. Maya is a lone wolf-- a CIA agent who sticks to her convictions that bin Laden is not hiding out in caves in Afghanistan, but is likely living in relatively open sight. Based on true events, and from firsthand accounts by the CIA agents involved, the movie sets itself up very much like a docudrama. Characterization is passed over and the viewer forced to merely follow along procedurally with the characters; namely, Jessica Chastain's Maya. She is the anchor of the entire film, the one person you are given to carry you through the story, but if you are looking for a background on her you won’t find it here. There are no secondary storylines here, this is strictly how Maya and her colleagues working tirelessly and continuously to find Osama Bin Laden.

We watch her evolution from that first torture scene, from a smart-suited observer and wet around the ears, to several years later into her tenure in Pakistan, where she now leads the interrogation and taps a strong-arm to do the punching for her.
The movie turns into the ultimate procedural, in which computer work, matching photographs, and one seeming irrelevancy after another in an old interrogation video lead Maya to a man known as Abu Ahmed, who, at regular intervals, drives a white S.U.V. from Peshawar to a house in Abbottabad. It's takes an half an hour before we first hear a name we recognize, Abu Ahmed al-Kuwaiti, the trusted bin Laden courier who will eventually lead the CIA to their mark. Though at this point in the film, victory is still years away. Over the course of a decade, Maya finds promising leads that turn into dead ends, and then unpromising little tidbits that turn into even better leads. It’s imprecise work that requires meticulous attention to detail and not much of a private life.

Progress is slow in "Zero Dark Thirty,” but the flow of information is fast and continuous, and the movie doesn't wait for you to catch up. There are more than 100 speaking parts--fellow analysts, CIA chiefs, national security advisers, and SEAL team members, many of them played by familiar faces. Characters enter for a scene or two, and just as quickly disappearing--sometimes before we have had a chance to register who they really are. Sometimes Bigelow don't even tell us the names, because she puts enough trust in the audience to assume we'll have a working knowledge of who the major players are. The coldness in tone changes drastically during the final act, when Bin Laden's compound is breached. Suddenly a wealth of emotions hits you, your gaze is unwavering, and the suspense is overwhelming. Even knowing how the story ends, it doesn't change the immense power of the final minutes.

“Zero Dark Thirty” is a film that most Americans will no doubt embrace their patriotism enthusiastically, while others might have misgivings about the use of torture on detainees. But the film's depiction of such torture doesn't condone it; it's a record of it, as part of the narrative jigsaw drawn from those who were involved.
Jessica Chastain delivers an Oscar worthy performance-powerfully and defiantly standing own her own, and never backing down despite years of exasperating obstacles. An absorbing richly textured portrayal of a dark, pivotal chapter in American history that forever changed our lives.… Expand
0 of 4 users found this helpful04
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10
bsykes91Jun 20, 2013
The best movie of the year, Zero Dark Thirty flawlessly builds up the tension until the grand finale. Bigelow's directing creates a film with grand scale while also paying attention to details. Former journalist Mark Boal once again writesThe best movie of the year, Zero Dark Thirty flawlessly builds up the tension until the grand finale. Bigelow's directing creates a film with grand scale while also paying attention to details. Former journalist Mark Boal once again writes an airtight screenplay that intelligently tells this important story. The raid scene was brilliantly done with no music behind the images and the night vision shooting, this helped me be immersed in the movie and feel like I was there. This film also has stirred up controversy and sparked heated debates, which is a feature of great movies most of the time. Great movies cause us to question our worldview, which is precisely what Zero Dark Thirty does.… Expand
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6
BlackfuryRisesJun 11, 2013
A good performance by Chastain, and a great supporting cast, but I couldn't stop feeling bored by a movie spanning the time period of years...and having it feel like centuries.
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8
Sevvy88Jun 7, 2013
If you're expecting a no holds barred action thriller then you will hate this. I was surprised by this movie. I felt empty after watching it. I felt sad for our culture. I felt sad for the current state of the world. It's a cautionary tale.If you're expecting a no holds barred action thriller then you will hate this. I was surprised by this movie. I felt empty after watching it. I felt sad for our culture. I felt sad for the current state of the world. It's a cautionary tale. The brilliance of Bigelow is that with this film and with Hurt Locker she sends her message in a bottle to us in the form of the military and patriotism. Her messages fly right over people's heads, the very people she is critiquing. If you "get" this movie, you aren't clapping because Bin Laden gets axed, you are clapping because someone finally pointed out how crazy our world is.… Expand
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6
Forrestgump1Jun 4, 2013
"Zero Dark Thirty is no question a suspenseful, edge of your seat thriller while all the same being a worthy recreation of the biggest manhunt in history. That being said its also a huge let-down. A movie that is just good, when it needed to"Zero Dark Thirty is no question a suspenseful, edge of your seat thriller while all the same being a worthy recreation of the biggest manhunt in history. That being said its also a huge let-down. A movie that is just good, when it needed to be perfect." B-… Expand
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10
MauroPTrianoMay 25, 2013
Precise, flawless and one of the best films of the 2012. The second consecutive masterpiece of Ms. Bigelow and Mr. Boal after "The Hurt Locker". It's a great achievement in directing, acting, script and editing.
"Ms. Bigelow's direction herePrecise, flawless and one of the best films of the 2012. The second consecutive masterpiece of Ms. Bigelow and Mr. Boal after "The Hurt Locker". It's a great achievement in directing, acting, script and editing.
"Ms. Bigelow's direction here is unexpectedly stunning, at once bold and intimate: she has a genius for infusing even large-scale action set pieces with the human element." Manhola Dargis, The New York Times.
"As a moral statement, Zero Dark Thirty is borderline fascistic. As a piece of cinema, it's phenomenally gripping an unholy masterwork." David Edelstein, New York Magazine (Vulture)… Expand
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9
Voice0fReasonMay 21, 2013
I thought this was one of the best films of the year. It was visually pleasing, had a great story line, had a great actress, and really informed you on what actually happened in the finding of Osama Bin Laden. Movies that make you feelI thought this was one of the best films of the year. It was visually pleasing, had a great story line, had a great actress, and really informed you on what actually happened in the finding of Osama Bin Laden. Movies that make you feel emotion are good. This movie made me feel pissed about the people who did nothing. This is why it was a great movie. I gave it a 9/10 because it was not the best of the year.… Expand
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3
PStakhivMay 21, 2013
Easily one of the most boring movie in history, this supposed to be documentary. It's also has flaws, it's hard to believe that CIA would act as they did, not one memorable character. The worst thing is how everyone rate this movie, andEasily one of the most boring movie in history, this supposed to be documentary. It's also has flaws, it's hard to believe that CIA would act as they did, not one memorable character. The worst thing is how everyone rate this movie, and Jessica Chastain did better job with Mama, Lawless.… Expand
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6
JacobMay 19, 2013
Zero Dark Thirty is a well made film. It has an interesting story, a realistic feel, and a likeable main character. Despite all of this though whether for its length, lack of excitement, or my personal feelings I did not enjoy it that much. IZero Dark Thirty is a well made film. It has an interesting story, a realistic feel, and a likeable main character. Despite all of this though whether for its length, lack of excitement, or my personal feelings I did not enjoy it that much. I think it is boring. It was like going to an art museum and seeing this painting everyone was crowded around. You go up to the painting to see what all of the fuss is about and you are like what do all see in this. It is alright but it is nothing spectacular. That is exactly how I feel about this film along with Lincoln and Argo. While the film is well made I personally did not enjoy it that much. If it did connect with me it would have certainly gotten an 8 but because of my boredom throughout the majority of the film it gets a 6. It is ok. Not a bad film and is well made but personally I did not find it that interesting. If you are into these Academy Award Wining films you will enjoy Zero Dark Thirty but if not get ready to take a nap.… Expand
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0
asdasd33aMay 19, 2013
horrible film that shows senseless perverted violence and doesn't even bother to make a point
as a documentary it fails to answer or even stab at the real question WHY? Why did the US with all the resources of richest country could nothorrible film that shows senseless perverted violence and doesn't even bother to make a point
as a documentary it fails to answer or even stab at the real question WHY? Why did the US with all the resources of richest country could not locate a single man and/or destroy organization which he stood behind.
This film's entertainment value is nonexistent… Expand
4 of 8 users found this helpful44
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0
HorganshwagMay 18, 2013
Dragged out and over rated. If you want to watch this movie because you feel it is your patriotic duty to cheer on 'merica for their fine torture skills, just watch the first and last 15 minutes, everything else is just filler. At least itDragged out and over rated. If you want to watch this movie because you feel it is your patriotic duty to cheer on 'merica for their fine torture skills, just watch the first and last 15 minutes, everything else is just filler. At least it stays true to reality, for most of the hunt for Osama no one is doing anything.

Also why are American critics ratings counted for this movie? you can not get more biased. most European or Canadian critics would give this a solid 50.… Expand
3 of 4 users found this helpful31
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7
ExKingMay 16, 2013
i don't understand why this is a critically acclaimed movie because it has no quality to be in a Hollywood movie and i know it showed a first hand information but it could be a documentary for all i care.
a boring two and a half hours thati don't understand why this is a critically acclaimed movie because it has no quality to be in a Hollywood movie and i know it showed a first hand information but it could be a documentary for all i care.
a boring two and a half hours that i couldn't wait so i can see the end it has no action no thriller no stand out performances well there is one when maya snapped but that's it literally.
they kept saying the wolf and the wolf and i was anticipating this person so much until he showed up praying in his office not even able to pronounce the most important three lines in Islam i mean if you gonna choose someone to play that role please don't choose him based on his look rather than his pronunciation to Arabic letters and it's really ironic that they tried so hard to show maya as a tough CIA agent who really wanna get to the bottom of it but the fact that she wasn't able to fill her role.
the only thing positive about this movie is your anticipation to see the end that's it.… Expand
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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8
wishmasterMay 8, 2013
That way the Bigelow directing this film, cold, ruthless; the script and the way that was born you absorbed in this terrorist puzzle that love and admired. and check that Argo beside Zero Dark Thirty is a kids film.
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1
raulhaez9May 6, 2013
Horrible, Horrible, Horrible. Complete waste of my time and money. The previews made it to look like a great movie with explosions and combat, nope it was BAD. They gave the pencil pushers alot of credit in this movie.
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8
BrianMcCriticApr 28, 2013
I loved seeing all the work it took to get Bin Laden. This is a really good movie not a great one. Some moments in this film are very exciting, especially the last 30 minutes when you know what's coming.
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10
marioiker03Apr 27, 2013
Zero Dark Thirty is a perfect film a movie that reflects America's patriotism and faith in a woman wanting to capture the most wanted man in the world dotod is a movie full of action drama and a magnificent Final voltage Jessica Chastain thisZero Dark Thirty is a perfect film a movie that reflects America's patriotism and faith in a woman wanting to capture the most wanted man in the world dotod is a movie full of action drama and a magnificent Final voltage Jessica Chastain this spectacular… Expand
0 of 2 users found this helpful02
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9
blacksheeptrpApr 26, 2013
intense movie comes final conclusion of iraq freedom. this good movie can be slow but last 30 minutes of are epic. this movie is pretty good and story pretty good
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1
CAP198462Apr 24, 2013
ZD30 is the second most boring film I have seen to date, the first was The Blair Witch Project, and I slept all the way through that, woke up when it ended, in the middle of the day even. In my opinion ZD30 is a film that really wants to beZD30 is the second most boring film I have seen to date, the first was The Blair Witch Project, and I slept all the way through that, woke up when it ended, in the middle of the day even. In my opinion ZD30 is a film that really wants to be a documentary, but for various reasons isn't. At first zd30 is a dull docu-drama, then in the last ten minutes it decides to try being an docu-action movie, but the persistent desire to be a fly on the wall documentary leaves even Navy SEALs, shooting Osama Bin Ladin in the head feeling bland and boring.… Expand
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8
kubrickApr 21, 2013
To all the 'professional critics who gave this movie a 10; have you seen Apocalypse Now or Deer Hunter or Full Metal Jacket or Platoon? If you are making a war movie those are the bench marks, so with that in mind an 8 is generous for ZDT,To all the 'professional critics who gave this movie a 10; have you seen Apocalypse Now or Deer Hunter or Full Metal Jacket or Platoon? If you are making a war movie those are the bench marks, so with that in mind an 8 is generous for ZDT, which is really just a patriotic action movie. Still it is immeasurably better than Argo, which inexplicably won Best Picture, but i suppose there is poetic justice in that since Hurt Locker robbed Avatar (karma). I have a sneaking suspicion if Bigelow had a penis ZDT would have lower scores from female critics (whole generally seem to dislike war movies as violence glorifying patriarchal war propaganda. maybe that crap is ok when practiced by 'wymin'.) If you see this movie expecting a 10 you will be disappointed, but if you go in anticipating a good action movie ZDT won't let you down.… Expand
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8
SpangleApr 20, 2013
It's tough to make a movie where everybody knows what will happen since it's a historic event, but Bigelow did a fantastic job in my mind doing so. Jessica Chastain was fantastic in the lead role and all the of the other actors did a greatIt's tough to make a movie where everybody knows what will happen since it's a historic event, but Bigelow did a fantastic job in my mind doing so. Jessica Chastain was fantastic in the lead role and all the of the other actors did a great job too. It's a little long, but it has enough to keep you interested in it. Good movie.… Expand
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9
hacmiu36Apr 20, 2013
Nice The movie was so nice and good. I love it.
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6
Joshthomas2014Apr 13, 2013
A repetitiveness was definitely realized with this film and almost an exploitation of one of the most major hunts in American history. Acting was very well, but aside from the pay out, nothing is really wonderful with this film.
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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6
ClariseSamuelsApr 9, 2013
In Jean-Paul Sartre's story “The Wall,” a political prisoner who is sentenced to death is given the option of betraying the location of his comrade in order to live. He gives the police a false location thereby gaining a little more timeIn Jean-Paul Sartre's story “The Wall,” a political prisoner who is sentenced to death is given the option of betraying the location of his comrade in order to live. He gives the police a false location thereby gaining a little more time before he is executed. To his shock, his execution is canceled. Unknown to him, his comrade had been moved to a different location, and he had inadvertently given the police the correct information. Whether or not he could enjoy his reprieve is dubious--he had sentenced his friend to death, but without meaning to. For Sartre, the story had existentialist implications about mortality and the senselessness of life, but for Zero Dark Thirty, it illustrates an important point, which is that torture or threat of death does not yield reliable information, since prisoners will say anything to stop the pain or save their own lives. It is generally acknowledged that torture is ineffective besides being immoral, inhumane and illegal. Torture is outlawed by the United Nations Convention against Torture, which has been ratified by 47 countries.

Nevertheless, it would take hours and hours of research to try to figure out when and where the CIA used torture, and it's not clear if it continues to this day. There has been an outcry questioning the veracity of Zero Dark Thirty, which depicted torture in a callous and shocking way worthy of the Nazis and their Gestapo tactics, with no suffering, remorse, or emotional reaction on the part of the agents who inflicted the torture. In one scene, when one of the torturers is being transferred back to head offices, he admits to burnout simply by saying, “I've seen too many guys naked.” Too trite and not very funny.

The focus of the rave reviews is Jessica Chastain's performance, which is understated, yet dramatic and regal. And for Americans, the film provides an opportunity to be seen as the good guys, having taken out the criminal who orchestrated the death of 3,000 people, mostly innocent civilians, on 9/11. But there are problems with the character of Maya, played by Jessica Chastain, who may not exist in real life and might be a composite of several female agents. In the film, she is a young woman with steely determination, but with no personal life or past. She has no love life, there is no mention of family, hobbies or interests--she was recruited out of high school and has done nothing but devote herself to long hours of office detective work. When witnessing torture, she has no reaction and no feelings. One character notes, “Washington says she's a killer.” But having been recruited for office work right out of high school, it's clear she has never seen battle and has never killed anyone. She's a bright kid who does her homework, she's determined, but she has no personality and no past. So she's exceedingly dull, and even Jessica Chastain could not work around that problem very well.

In one scene, at an executive meeting, when asked who found the safe house, Maya replies, “I'm the motherf***er who found the place.” In an interview with ex-CIA agents, it was noted that if an agent said that at a high-level meeting to a CIA director, the agent would be fired immediately. Because Hollywood types constantly use the f-word in every conceivable part of grammatical speech, they think everybody does, and they assume that intelligent people are rendered inarticulate without it. There were other inaccuracies in the finale as well, which were remarked upon in interviews with the Navy SEALS.

In any case, the perfection of this movie was marred by historical inaccuracies and the almost unwatchable graphic torture scenes which were inappropriate for high-quality cinema, having been taken out of any kind of moral, artistic, or symbolic context. Perhaps these scenes focus attention on the acceptance of torture, thereby helping to bring it to an end, but it still does not make for high art or good cinema. There are other off-camera ways to depict this critical moral issue, such as showing the political fallout and the ill effects on the people who had to do it, as well as the long-term effects on the victims.… Expand
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0
tradetherookieApr 9, 2013
And who is Mia besides a great agent? Who is she as a human character? What’s her backstory? Why is she doing this? Would have been more involved if one of her family members died in the September 11th Attacks or something but the movie won’tAnd who is Mia besides a great agent? Who is she as a human character? What’s her backstory? Why is she doing this? Would have been more involved if one of her family members died in the September 11th Attacks or something but the movie won’t go that far because they want to stick to true accounts. The only emotion we see from her other than the eagerness and get Bin Laden is her sadness when Al Qaeda bombed that CIA base that her partner was at and the tears that come out her eye after she confirmed that it was Bin Laden that was shot. It would be great if there was some interesting backstory. If there was a reason she was doing this that could be shown to make the audience like her more. If we take out the context of Al Qaeda and Bin Laden, and just look at the story of Maya fighting terrorists and catching a highly sought after terrorist leader, can her story stand on its own legs? Not to me, it can't.

Maya’s confidence is a big theme in this movie but the consequences of her being wrong is not addressed in a conflicting or dangerous manner.

Consequences: The possibility of Bin Laden not actually being in the Abbotobad compound was heavily addressed through the uncertainty of most of the characters beside Maya. However, the consequences were not explored! Because this movie is a true account, we know what is going to happen at the end. But why should we care if we are not sure of the consequences of what could happen? In Argo, we know they’re going to escape but there are some minor consequences we hear about: death by execution, foreigners getting caught in the airport, being hung in the streets. Even those consequences were weakly displayed. But what are the consequences if Bin Laden is not in the compound? Whose head will fall? What effect will it have on America? On the President? On Leon Panetta? On the continued activities of the CIA? Why aren’t people getting angry or playing politics on what could happen? Why is there no serious conflict here? What about other consequences? What if the Pakistani air force attacked them? What if the local police or militia did? Most importantly to the story of the movie, what happens to Maya if she is wrong?

Put Aside The Story of Maya: Did the film producers create the film because they had this unique story about a young, ambitious, female CIA agent who managed to deduce the location of a highly wanted and highly elusive criminal target? Or did they create the film because they wanted to show the steps taken to find and kill Osama Bin Laden? I think the film producers were “sold” on making the film based on the latter whether or not their interest began with the CIA agent story.

True Accounts: I read the basic Wikipedia summary on a handful of potential consequences and strategies surrounding the raid and these summary items went in so much more depth than the movie did. What if there was a bunker underneath the house? Why did they choose to do a raid instead of bombing? Or instead of a targeted drone strike? What was going on with Obama during this time? Just like in Argo, where we see nothing strategic and deep with Jimmy Carter, we see nothing interesting with President Obama, who is the final decision-maker in this whole process. We see no strategy in how the U.S. would know if the Pakistanis released the fighter jets because they have a deal with the Pakistanis that the jets given to them by the U.S. would be under 24-hour surveillance? What if Osama was wearing a suicide vest? How would they have handled it? What if there were mines on the doors? And these are just little wikipedia summary items that I skimmed. I expect a producer of a film to do highly extensive research and give me all the good stuff. There’s so much reasoning and strategy that is just dropped from this movie.

Other Ways To Tell The Story: Telling the story from the perspective of many people instead of the CIA agents would have given the movie a lot more depth. It would have been great to see what Obama, Panetta, the Admiral, and the CIA director were going through. How they didn’t want to be wrong. They could have told this story from many different perspectives and many different people. But they chose the story of Maya which is boring to me.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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10
movieboyApr 6, 2013
Having now watched ZDT twice my appreciation has increased. It's really quite masterful as a work of film making, maybe the best of 2012. But it's not an easy film to watch for those expecting hyper action or in your face acting. JessicaHaving now watched ZDT twice my appreciation has increased. It's really quite masterful as a work of film making, maybe the best of 2012. But it's not an easy film to watch for those expecting hyper action or in your face acting. Jessica Chastain was expertly cast as an obsessive agent who spent years trying to discover the whereabouts of UBL. While the torture scenes were tough to watch I never felt the film glorified it as a means of extracting info. The slow build up to the raid was perfectly timed. And even a second time around the final compound scenes were thrilling. No wonder it was bestowed with Oscar nominations.… Expand
1 of 3 users found this helpful12
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8
Trev29Apr 6, 2013
A fantastic and compelling performance by Jessica Chastain is guided by the equally impressive job of directing by Bigelow. Intensely done with such poise. This unraveling story comes together in a provocative but real way.
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1
mrmonsterApr 2, 2013
I think an Osama bin Laden documentray on History Channel would habe been ten times better. This movie had no story, no characters, and no real point. The actor's mumbled the whole movie. Even the part in which bin Laden himself wasI think an Osama bin Laden documentray on History Channel would habe been ten times better. This movie had no story, no characters, and no real point. The actor's mumbled the whole movie. Even the part in which bin Laden himself was assassinated was not thrilling at all. I have no idea how the critics enjoyed this movie so much.… Expand
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1
guardianofhomeApr 1, 2013
I glanced this film because many critics recommended. but really really boring and I didn't see the operation because of Dark Screen Effect. why this film get a high score by critics?? US government wanna show off or celebrate the success ofI glanced this film because many critics recommended. but really really boring and I didn't see the operation because of Dark Screen Effect. why this film get a high score by critics?? US government wanna show off or celebrate the success of the operation? Congrat~! but this film is really really boring~! absolutely~!… Expand
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