Zero Dark Thirty

What's it all about? Much like Argo , Zero Dark Thirty dramatises another secret government mission , although this time it follows the recent hunt for al - Qaeda terrorist leader Osama Bin Laden ; which ultimately culminated in his death on 6 May 2011. 

Starring? Jessica Chastain , Joel Edgerton , Chris Pratt 

I remember clearly the announcement of Bin Laden's death last year , strangely enough it was my birthday and the royal wedding had occurred only a few days prior ; nonetheless it was an uplifting long weekend. Within this however lies a key dilemma for the film-maker , how can one build up edge-of-your-seat suspense when the entire audience is well aware of the missions success? Somehow director Katherine Bigelow manages , despite the 153 minutes , to execute a film that is constantly intriguing  and plentiful with suspense. Bin Laden's death is inevitable , and yet we are incredibly captivated by how indeed the secret services got there. It is a though rally entertaining film , Bigelow and writer Mark Boal show a clear skill in portraying the entire American 'war on terror' in the length of a single film. Its acted tremendously , with a generous cast and some well known faces popping up unexpectantley from time to time. Chastain gives a confident and authentic performance as the lead , providing films answer to Homeland's Carrie Mathison , only without the bipolar. It is is unarguably a brilliantly executed film , surpassing the mark with performances , dialogue , effects and cinematography. However  my issue with Zero Dark Thirty lies amidst the well accomplished action.  It does not shy away from placing torture in front of the audience , stating clearly that these methods were used to successfully find a terrorist. It unarguably edges towards being pro-torture and yet I find it almost brave that aside from its opinion it presents the matter so frankly. On the other hand Zero Dark Thirty makes me slightly uneasy , the release of restricted government files so soon after the incident makes me extremely sceptical ; is this propaganda?  Certainly America is conveyed as the empowered heroes , with little time reflecting on the effect the 'war on terror' has had on the Middle East. Perhaps it is the British in me talking , but I found myself being reminded of certain Team America scenes , the portrayal of almighty America distracts from the skill of the film making. The propagandist elements lets it down somewhat , yet looking past this it is an achievement for all involved , capturing tension  in a way that Argo fails to do. I am left with one question for The Academy , where's Bigelow's nomination?

Verdict? 4.5 Stars , hugely entertaining and captivating propaganda.