And The Oscar Goes To...

     This year's coveted Movie of the Year Award at the Oscar's is going to be a difficult choice to make. Having seen three of the nominations: Les Miserables, Lincoln, and Zero Dark Thirty, it can be agreed that all of the nominees are most deserving of that tiny statue. I just saw Zero Dark Thirty on Saturday, and was completely blown away by it, so I was interested to know what others thought of the movie. A review that I found quite fitting came from CinemaBlend.com, which features reviews, trailers, and photos of almost every contemporary and classic film. 

     It was only a matter of time until someone decided to make a movie about the assassination of Osama Bin Laden, but that does not come until the very end of the 160 minute movie. The first two hours tell a shockingly different story, beginning with the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center, and it was very interesting to see how this ten year manhunt for a single person unfolded. 

     Almost as incredible was the main character portrayed by Jessica Chastain. "In the middle of such a complicated story, Zero Dark Thirty, presents such a complex character in Maya (Chastain) ... who sidesteps every imaginable possible cliche. Everything about her ... speaks to her unusal position as a woman in the Middle East, but that contrast never becomes text, just another fascinating layer in a story with no simple conclusions." I agree with the article about the way Maya was portrayed: it was extremely important for the character to be written and acted well. The use of contrast in this movie allowed the viewer to realize just how different it is for women not only in the CIA, but in the Middle East as well. Maya wore a headscarf as well as many other things in order to talk to the prisoners of war. The power struggle between her and many of the male CIA officers was evident. 

     The scenes of torture, which was needed to extract crucial information, were very powerful and deeply employed pathos. Waterboarding, food deprivation, beatings, etc. were used in this movie (including video from actual interrogations) shone a spotlight on a subject we like to keep hush-hush. Initially, you think "Wow, I can't believe we are doing this to other people." But then you start to think, "I guess comparatively, this isn't too bad as long as we can stop people from blowing up buses and hotels." 

     "Zero Dark Thirty exudes a constant, quiet confidence telling a story with an ending we all know and making it feel thrilling, suspenseful, and completely vital." The visual statements made in the movie are profound and make you wonder if the ends really do justify the means. I highly suggest, as well as those at CinemaBlend.com, that you see this movie.