Movie #721 ........................."Zero Dark Thirty"

Movie #721 "Zero Dark Thirty" may be the best film I've seen this year --- this, and "Lincoln" ---- this was, indeed, a heart-pouding experience, esp. the last 30 minutes, which made up the final attack on Bin Laden in close to real time, and that helped put you, the audience, there. I sat in awe at how the director and actress can take scenes of just listening or watching or reading and proceed to make the story so intense. The opening itself is such a great idea --- to connect 9/11 to the rest of the film. Of course, I didn't enjoy the torture scenes, but they were all still part of the intensity and powerfulness of the story. Incidentally, I have seen worse torture scenes in other films (not that I keep track), and it was interesting to be in the pov of the torturer this time and see what goes on into his mind and heart after spending months trying to break someone down........can't even imagine. Here's something else I can't imagine. How this movie's director wasn't nominated for best director? yet, the actress, and several tech people are up, and the movie is nominated for best picture ---- did they think it could be made by itself? In the hands of a mediocre director, this could have been criticized much more than it is --- too early for the subject matter, it gives away too many state secrets, too difficult to watch, too long, not much to keep attention, no one is likable, whatever the criticism, but she's one of the best directors in the business right now. It would be interesting if Bigelow becomes the victim here, and her movie makes big picture because of that. Stranger things have happened in Hollywood. In any case, it and she belong right up there really high on the list for best of the best this year. But it isn't for the faint of heart, for sure, nor for the kid behind me who chomped on pop corn through the whole thing! Why was he in an R rated film anyway? gave it 5 out of 5 stars Zero Dark Thirty 2012 R This pulse-pounding thriller dramatizes the night of May 2, 2011, when the Navy's SEAL Team 6 set out to capture or kill Osama bin Laden. The world knows of their triumph; now the chronicle of every perilous second is about to unfold. Cast:Jessica Chastain, Jason Clarke, Joel Edgerton, Jennifer Ehle, Mark Strong, Kyle Chandler, Édgar Ramírez , James Gandolfini, Chris Pratt, Reda Kateb, Scott Adkins, Taylor Kinney Genre:Military & War Dramas, Military & War Action, 20th Century Period Pieces, Drama