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| Yeah... don't worry about it being too factual. |
Zero Dark Thirty- Not Just An Action Movie You Already Know The End To
Just finished watching Zero Dark Thirty and I was somewhat impressed at how entertaining it was. Towards the end, it gets intense! I’m not sure why the last half hour or so was such a suspenseful experience for me (maybe it was anticipation?) but it was just that.
Kind of interesting to make a Hollywood film about a real-life event that took place less than two years ago, but I think this risk works out. Oftentimes people shy away from recent real-life subject matter because it is assumed the public wants escapism. I guess this film proves that the average moviegoer is open to a film about real-life events- as long as they have a happy (I guess?) ending.
It is a story that builds, so don’t expect your heart to race for about 2 hours of the 2:37 runtime. There were a few torture scenes that made me feel very desensitized when I found myself thinking: why am I kind of bored right now? Yes, it does drag a little at some points, but it's going somewhere good, don’t worry.
Zero Dark Thirty is up for five Academy Awards this year: Best Picture, Best Actress (Jessica Chastain), Best Original Screenplay, Best Sound Editing, and Best Film Editing. So in honor of the antiquated, superbly uncool television event that is the Academy Awards, let’s evaluate the film by its award categories.
*I still haven’t watched all of the nominees, so be forewarned- speculation ahead.
Best Picture- I hope I like one of the other nominees better. It’s an entertaining film to be sure, but I don’t feel affected by it too much. It’s not too groundbreaking, other than being a success story for films with recent subject matter. I really hope I like something better, but I’m not upset that it’s nominated, so that’s cool.
Best Actress- I like Jessica Chastain for some reason. I’ve only seen her in movies that I didn’t like too much (Take Shelter, Tree of Life), so she must have been really good enough in them. I think she’s rather talented and I think she’s going to make me really happy one day. Her screen presence is apparent in this movie as well, but I don’t think the character she plays is deserving. Her character seems very manufactured. Hollywood does have a hard time making complex female characters, so naturally we are given the stereotypical tough chick in place of a real person. The role should not interesting enough to be the role that Chastain wins for. Maybe someday she’ll win her Oscar though.
Best Original Screenplay- This one did upset me a little. Why do the highest officials in the CIA swear so much? That is a very unprofessional environment, and I sincerely hope they are able to conduct themselves in a more mature way. I’m pretty sure Chastain’s character harrasses her way to the top, and I’m also pretty sure that technique doesn’t work in reality. It is an interesting story, but not because of the writing. The writing was definitely a weak point, maybe THE weak point of the film. It succeeds in spite of ridiculous characters and ridiculous dialogue. Not a fan.
Film and Sound Editing- I’m not as invested in these areas, but I think it could win in both of those categories. Like I said, it was downright suspenseful leading up to the climax, and that is probably due to the editing (both film and sound) getting in my head. Kudos, hope you win there Zero!
Sidenote-Prepare yourself to be distracted by the side actors as well. I spotted Lord Blackwell from Sherlock Holmes (real name Mark Strong apparently), Pete from The League (Mark Duplass), Andy from Parks and Recreation (Chris Pratt), and James Gandolfini. None of these actors did a bad job really, but I found their presence somewhat distracting. For instance, Andy is a badass Navy Seal instead of the loveable dope he plays on Parks and Rec. Very confusing.
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| ZDT Casting agent : "He does feel comfortable in water... Navy Seal!" |
I liked it.
+ Entertaining, has some great scenes, tells a great story.
- Has some annoying flaws and can be a tad boring.
3.5 out of 5 stars sounds about right.
