'Zero Dark Thirty' Review: Thrilling Film Accurately Portrays Hunt For Osama Bin Laden

"Zero Dark Thirty" starring Jessica Chastain, Joel Edgerton, Jason Clarke, and more, is a masterful retelling of the worldwide manhunt for Osama Bin Laden after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. With Kathryn Bigelow directing and written by Mark Boel, the movie follow Maya, played by Chastain, who is a CIA agent who's been hunting Bin Laden for the entirety of her career. 

The movie featured some difficult to watch scenes, where detainees were brutally tortured in an effort to extract information regarding a potential terrorist attack or the whereabouts of a high ranking Al-Queda officials. Eventually, the CIA is able to get the name of a courier who works for Bin Laden, and is among "The Disappeared," the high ranking Al-Queda officials who vanished after 9/11. They are able to track him down, after multiple false leads and failed attempts, to a small fortress in Pakistan. But, the higher-ups in the CIA were reluctant to commit to an operation, because of the "risk" involved in a potential operation. But, more than 100 days after, the president agrees on an operation, so Maya and Seal Team Six prepare to storm the fortress. Obviously every American has heard about the operation in detail, but watching it unfold on the screen was a different level on intensity. 

The film's cinematography was outstanding, and had a documentary type feel, which made the movie feel even more authentic. Chastain's performance as Maya will definite get her a Best Actress award, her portrayal of a CIA determined to find Bin Laden humanized the story, where characters from the CIA and Al-Queda were equally brutal. That being said, "Zero Dark Thirty" is one of the must-watch movies of the year, and is thrilling from start to finish.