#2 - Forever Trust In Who We Are

2 – ZERO DARK THIRTY: Perhaps the most controversial film of the year because of its depiction of torture and its suggestion that torture was vital in finding Osama Bin Laden, this will stand the test of time as the definitive take on The War on Terror.  At least the early years of it, because I see no end in sight.  From the opening, bone-chilling 9/11 representation, the movie spans the last decade as the CIA did what it thought was necessary to protect the US and carry out the largest manhunt in history.  Except, as the movie shows, they didn’t do a particularly good job in those early years, as terrorists continued to brazenly attack Western nations.  Meanwhile, the CIA did some pretty horrific things to helpless captives, and you can justify it however you want.  In my view, it’s simply immoral, and it’s very interesting to see how the politics changed as time passed.  To each their own on this one.  (continues after the jump)

I will always remember 9/11 as the day that my naïve, fantastical view of the world was obliterated.  To quote Downton Abbey, after that day I lived in a harsh world, but at least I knew I did.  And in those early years I felt hatred against those who perpetrated those attacks and a strong thirst for vengeance.  This film has elements of those feelings, but it also asks the question at what cost?  Was it all worth it?  I still say yes, despite my objections to the methods used.  We were wounded, and we responded poorly (see Patriot Act, Abu Grahib, the phantom WMDs).  But this man had to go, for justice, for the blow to Al-Qaida morale, and to send the message that we will never give up, because they sure as hell won’t. 

Jessica Chastain might be the best actress alive right now, and her face expresses more emotion than anything she says.  She is relentless, friendless, and completely focused on this one task, and we see the toll it takes on her.  Great performances from Mark Strong, Chris Pratt, and especially Jason Clarke gave the film a very realistic edge.  The script did well to build the tension up slowly, and the final raid sequence was intense and riveting.  After one of the few triumphs to come out of this dark decade, the movie asks quite literally, what now?