Zero Dark Thirty

The Gist: After the attacks on September 11, 2001, a manhunt to capture or kill Osama bin Laden got underway.  The woman behind it never let her guard down, until she zeroed in on his hideout, and a Navy S.E.A.L.s team finished the job on May 6, 2011.

Another compelling film from Kathryn Bigelow, Zero Dark Thirty was deservedly nominated for a Best Picture Oscar.  Unfortunately, Ms. Bigelow herself, like Ben Affleck that same year, was bizarrely left out of the Best Director race.

It’s unfortunate because Bigelow had won in 2010 for directing The Hurt Locker, but I liked this movie a lot more.

Jessica Chastain was nominated for Best Supporting Actress, but she was never really able to overcome the goodwill that swept Jennifer Lawrence to victory that year for Silver Linings Playbook.

The Bottom Line: A must watch because it’s a great movie on its own and because it’s a likely fairly accurate account of one of the most important events in our lifetimes.

Grade: 8