adamgehrke.com

Picking up shortly after the terrorist attacks on 9/11, Zero Dark Thirty is the compressed history of the political relations between the United States and the Middle East. Detailing the work of the C.I.A., counterintelligence gathering, military strategists, White House operations, and ultimately the Navy S.E.A.L. team responsible for the elimination of Osama bin Laden. Told in riveting detail, albeit sometimes embellished for cinematic purposes, the film serves as an extended lesson on U.S. history, diplomacy, and what might be otherwise termed “black ops.” Directed by Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker), we’re once again given plenty to sink our teeth into, with an ensemble that includes masterful performances from Jessica Chastain and Jason Clarke. Gritty, tense, and unrelenting to the final frame this is not a feel good film; however, the film does provide for important insight answering many of the who, where, what, why and hows of our current political situation. Worth your consideration, just remember it’s a lengthy beast clocking in at 2 hours and 37 minutes in length, lay off that beverage eh? Zero Dark Thirty is rated R.