Film Review: Zero Dark Thirty

Directed by: Kathryn Bigelow. Stars: Jessica Chastain, Jason Clarke, Jennifer Ehle, Kyle Chandler, Harold Perrineau. Written by: Mark Boal. Released: January 2013

Zero Dark Thirty= military time for thirty minutes after midnight.

I knew three things going into Zero Dark Thirty. That it is a film about the hunt (supposedly based on government files, information, etc) for Osama Bin Laden and that it is gaining rave reviews from numerous film critics.

And the third is that film depicts controversial torture scenes. Not so much for the graphic nature of them, but that it is Americans that are doing the torturing. 

The film begins dramatically on September 11, 2001 with a black screen and audio of phone calls from those who died in the Twin Towers.

We then fast forward two years ahead with CIA expert Dan (Clarke) torturing a relative of Osama Bin Laden. It is an intense scene. In the corner sitting in the dark is Mya (Chastain) a CIA cipher (I had to do a bit of research to figure out what Mya’s job title was), a “killer” hired to find Osama Bin Laden and spends ten years dedicating her life to her task.

We then go into long and detailed look (thanks to former journalist turned screenplay writer Mark Boal) at the years and process of what it took find Osama Bin Laden. Since the film is bookend by intense, dramatic and action filled sequences it can makes the middle feel slower. But I feel it is done on purpose.  It is a movie about the process (just like Lincoln is about the process of the Emancipation Proclamation) and not so much a character study but a look at those behind the process.

Not to say the characters are not interesting and it is due to the talent of Chastain and the rest of the cast that they do so much with the little they have. It is about Mya and what she does, but besides her job and that she is hired and trained from high school (she must have done something impressive in high school) by the CIA, little else is known about Mya. Yet Chastain’s performance is engaging and layered enough with emotions that you almost forget that we don’t know her last name or anything else about her.  Chastain’s Mya is not depicted as a “tough in your face CIA agent.” She is strong, smart and fiercely determined for sure, but at the same time feels the confusion, uncertainty and pressure of what is required of her. With the little character information given, Mya is humanized and relatable through Chastain’s performance.

Director Kathryn Bigelow, along with cinematographer Graig Fraser and production designer Jeremy Hindle create a look and atmosphere that gives a beauty to the harsh lands of Afghanistan, Pakistan and even cramped CIA offices. The multi-media mix of fake and actual news footage, such as former President George W. Bush speaking on a television in the background and a President Obama interview where he claims torturing has stopped, adds a sense of irony on top of the realism. It is not exactly a new technique but it is blended well and used effectively in this case.  There are times where I find that Bigelow’s use of hand held camera is not needed, such as meetings, but for the action sequences it obviously works well. There is also times where a long shot of Mya is used to give a sense isolation that is subtle but effective. Along with Alexander Desplat’s score that isn't overbearing but heightens moments that a good score is meant to do. 

I will admit that at first the films ending slightly bugged me, but as I spent the last couple days thinking about it I now find it pretty fitting. At first I wanted a stronger ending, especially after the build up and the dramatic moment that we are all waiting for and know is coming.  But in keeping with the film being more about the process and little known about Mya even to this day, without giving too much away, Mya alone on plane heading home is fitting. 

The Oscars!!

I would have done this post sooner, but I’m getting over the flu and was very ill the morning the nominations for the 85^th Academy awards were announced. So sorry for the delay.

Another good promo...

Okay, one more...

There were some big surprises, upsets, whatever you want to call them.  Many thought Ben Affleck would receive (if not win) a best director nomination. He won many other awards for directing Argo, and the film received a Best Picture nomination as well and they tend to go hand in hand.  To add to his sting, last night he won The Golden Globe for both categories.

Kathryn Bigelow was also shut out for directing Zero Dark Thirty, yet the film also got a Best Picture nomination.

Another surprise was Quentin Tarantino being left in the cold, yet again Django Unchained is up for Best Picture and Tom Hooper for Les Misérables was shut out for directing as well.

It is odd when the director doesn’t get a nomination but the film does, how can that be exactly?  There are numerous reasons that could be a topic of a blog on its own, but to put it simply “Best Picture” does involve more than just the direction and there are ten spots for best picture where direction only has five spots for nominations. 

In the acting categories, Leonardo DiCaprio will have to try again to get that Oscar since the Academy decided to give it to Christoph Waltz instead for Django Unchained.

I would have also liked to have seen a nomination for in the best adaptation screenplay for 

The Perks of Being a Wallflower or even Cosmopolis, but that movie might have been a little too out there  for most of the Academy voters *cougholdwhitemencough*.

So, here are my predictions....as you can tell I didn't do ALL the categories....Ill confer with my friend Shannon who knows more about sound editing and mixing, etc. ;)

Some interesting stats concerning this year’s nominations; Lincoln leads the nominations with eleven. We have the oldest female nominee ever for Best Actress with Emmanuelle Riva at eighty-six for Amour AND the youngest ever female with Quvenzhane Wallis for Beasts of the Southern Wild at nine years old but was six when the movie was filmed.

Best Picture

Amour 

Argo 

Beasts of the Southern Wild 

Django Unchained 

Les Misérables 

Life of Pi 

Lincoln 

Silver Linings Playbook 

Zero Dark Thirty 

My prediction: It seems to be down between Lincoln and Silver Linings Playbook, but don’t fully count out Argo and Zero Dark Thirty. With the political backlash towards Zero Dark Thirty the Academy doesn't want to upset anyone in Washington and they like to play it safe. Argo does have the pity factor and and could win as a type of apology to Ben Affleck for not giving him a directing nom and the film festivals loved it. Also, NEVER count out the George Clooney factor in terms of him being a producer and loved in Hollywood by a large demographic. Silver Linings Playblook has the mental disorder and small budget feel that they love as well.  Lincoln has Spielberg, history and Daniel Day-Lewis.

It is a hard one and these are all solid films in their own right. I’m giving it to Argo in the end.I wouldn't mind being wrong on this one and well... “Argo F*** yourself!” 

Actor in a Leading Role

Bradley Cooper for Silver Linings Playbook 

Daniel Day-Lewis for Lincoln 

Hugh Jackman for Les Misérables

Joaquin Phoenix for The Master 

 Denzel Washington for Flight

My prediction: Everyone knows my love for the big DDL but don’t think that I’m biased enough that I don’t realize he campaigns like everyone else in his own way. And it’s working. Bradley Cooper wants it as well, but has to prove himself some more before the Academy is willing to give it to him so maybe another time. If DDL wasn't in it this year and the film wasn't a musical, Hugh Jackman could have been a real contender. Joaquin Phoenix gave his finest performance and one of the best performances in general that I have seen in years, and it is a honest shame that he is not getting more recognition for The Master, but with his comments about not caring for awards and the Hollywood establishment (despite backtracking and quietly playing nice now) The Master being too confusing and not Hollywood friendly, as well the DDL factor, any other year he would be the shoo in.

In the end I’m going with what I said the day Daniel Day-Lewis was announced to play Abraham Lincoln, “every other male actor can go home that night.” I’m giving it to Daniel Day-Lewis. One of the best. 

Actress in a Leading Role

Jessica Chastain for Zero Dark Thirty 

Jennifer Lawrence for Silver Linings Playbook 

Emmanuelle Riva for Amour (2012)

Quvenzhané Wallis for Beasts of the Southern Wild 

Naomi Watts for The Impossible 

I want to mention that sometimes who I pick to win may not be who necessarily deserves to win, and even that is subjective.  You follow enough award seasons and Hollywood gossip you end up learning enough about the politics involved with awards and nominations.   It can be as confusing and brutal as an episode of Game of Thrones.

 It is a two women race this year between Jessica Chastain and Jennifer Lawrence. Right off the bat we can eliminate Quvenzhane Wallis. Does she do a great job, yes, but come on...too young. As sad as this will sound, Emmanuelle Riva can be eliminated as well. Despite the film festival love, Amour is a “foreign film” and when was the last time an actress in a foreign film has won for the leading actress? Amour is also a heavy film that is not everyone's cup of tea.  Naomi Watts is gaining some support but it is too little too late.

It’s a difficult one and really could go either way between Jessica and Jennifer (sounds like competition for cheerleading captain). Both ladies are no doubt talented and almost chameleon like in their versatility. Again the political backlash towards Zero Dark Thirty comes to mind and Jennifer Lawrence is loved by Hollywood (at twenty-two this is her second nomination) and has Harvey Weinstein to back her up. In the end Katniss will come out of the arena as the victor. 

Actor in a Supporting Role

 Alan Arkin for Argo 

Robert De Niro for Silver Linings Playbook 

Philip Seymour Hoffman for The Master 

Tommy Lee Jones for Lincoln 

Christoph Waltz for Django Unchained 

This is another difficult category filled with acting legends. Although Philip Seymour Hoffman is loved by the academy, not enough momentum behind him and the unfriendliness of The Master comes into play again. Its okay, he has his Oscar for Capote. Alan Arkin is the lovable old man once again in Argo and already won for doing that in Little Miss Sunshine. Tommy Lee Jones is suffering the same fate like Joaquin Phoenix is. The DDL factor, only this time it is the Christoph Waltz factor.

Christoph Waltz is kinda becoming like DDL no? Excellent work not matter what and loved in Hollywood. Also, when your co-star takes the spotlight away from your lead AND Leonardo DiCaprio (and takes his nomination), you’re becoming like DDL. All while being your charming self.  It may not matter that he won for Inglorious Bastards not too long ago. I’m thinking the Academy will give it to him again.

Christoph...now “THAT’S A BINGO!”

Actress in a Supporting Role

Amy Adams for The Master 

Sally Field for Lincoln 

Anne Hathaway for Les Misérables 

Helen Hunt for The Sessions 

Jacki Weaver for Silver Linings Playbook 

This is another category that seems to be a lock. Normally a role like Mary Todd Lincoln would be the front runner. Add all the love for Lincoln and the way Sally Fields has been talking about fighting for the role and her long career, all make up the right ingredients for a win. Not so much this year.

This year comes a woman who was known as a goody-goody Disney Princess; a self admitted “vanilla personality,”  who plays Catwoman to many surprises and has THE MOMENT in a film that is almost three hours long. All in extreme close up.

Anne Hathaway...your dream has come true. 

Best Achievement in Directing

Michael Haneke for Amour 

Ang Lee for Life of Pi 

David O. Russell for Silver Linings Playbook

Steven Spielberg for Lincoln 

Benh Zeitlin for Beasts of the Southern Wild 

As mentioned before, this is the category has gotten a lot of buzz for those who were not nominated. Keep in mind many good directors have never won or have even nominated.

Again, as sad as this is, Michael Haneke won’t win for Amour; it is foreign and will win for that category. Plus The Artist was enough of a stretch for them to award Best Picture to and that was last year. Ang Li used a little too much CGI for the Academy’s liking. Benh Zeitlin is a surprise for his first feature, but won’t win since the film is too experimental for the Oscars and he is still an unknown, but keep it up!  

So it comes down (once again) between Spielberg for Lincoln and Russell for Silver Linings Playbook. Lincoln has everything the Academy loves and every once in a while they give it to an “underdog” feel good type like Silver Linings Playbook.

I’m going on a bit of limb and say David O. Russell for Silver Linings Playbook.

Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen

Amour: Michael Haneke

Django Unchained : Quentin Tarantino

Flight: John Gatins

Moonrise Kingdom: Wes Anderson, Roman Coppola

Zero Dark Thirty: Mark Boal

In other words, an ORIGINAL script and not adapted from a previous work, which is becoming less and less difficult to find.  That’s another category.

I’m going to keep this one short and sweet. As much as I would love to see Wes Anderson and Roman Coppola win for Moonrise Kingdom (and where is Wes Anderson for directing?) I’m going to give it to Quentin Tarantino for his always solid work and the amazing dialogue in Django Unchained.

An Anderson/Tarantino collaboration...now that would be something, lol.  Nevermind! Too many alpha males. 

Best Achievement in Costume Design  

Anna Karenina: Jacqueline Durran

Les Misérables: Paco Delgado

Lincoln: Joanna Johnston

Mirror Mirror: Eiko Ishioka

Snow White and the Huntsman: Colleen Atwood

I can’t do all twenty-four categories, and you probably don’t want to see me do them anyway, but I COULDN'T ignore costume design, especially with so many beautiful ones this year. Also plenty of good ones that were not nominated.

At first it is a three way tie for me between Anna Karenina (a beautiful film to watch and lots of technical awards as well,) Les Misérables and Lincoln. All in this category have been nominated (except Paco Delgado) before as well and do great work and their passion comes out.

Any actor will tell you about the importance of the costumes in terms of helping them develop their character. Any director and production designer will also tell the importance in terms of their vision in bringing  the world of the film to life.

Maybe the uber girl in me is coming out with this one, but I have to give it in the end to Jacqueline Durran for Anna Karenina. The costumes were superb in the elegance and reflection of Russian Aristocracy.

AND THE JEWLS!!! 

For the rest of the nominations, click on the link. http://www.imdb.com/oscars/nominations/?ref_=rto_nb_acd

It should be an interesting night, with host Seth MacFarlane on February 24!