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Zero Dark Thirty

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Zero Dark Thirty

2012

Drama

Suspense/Thriller

2h 37m

A chronicle of the decade-long hunt for al-Qaeda terrorist leader Osama bin Laden after the 9/11 attacks, and his death at the hands of the Navy SEAL Team 6 in May, 2011. (imdb)

Directed by:

Written by:

Starring:

Genres:

Drama, Suspense/Thriller, War, History

Country:

USA

Languages:

English, French, Urdu, Arabic, Pashtu

More information at IMDb

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Zero Dark Thirty

2012

Drama

Suspense/Thriller

2h 37m

Your probable score

Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer

Avg Percentile 56.73% from 3953 total ratings

Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer

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Alex Watkins

Rated 19 Feb 2013

By the time the infamous raid on bin Laden's compound happens, any sense of celebratory jingoism has been squashed out. Rather than a triumphant action sequence, it instead plays out as a detached slaughter: people sneaking around in the dark, coldly and efficiently disposing of our enemies. After all the turmoil and bloodshed that led to this point, it's questionable what's really been accomplished. The tears that stream down Maya's face in the closing shot convey this as well as anything.

Rated 19 Feb 2013

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moraesfelipe

Rated 13 Jan 2013

A competent, emotionally restrained as a military report, but also often gripping and insightful dramatization of the most unnerving, anguishing decade in American history. I just can't label this as a pro-torture film -- it's a small but essential part of a political system primarily run by fear; Bigelow shows torture in a frontal way, so we can notice how detestable that is --, because this is mostly a historical reenactment (through cinema), a mediatic, screen-obsessed collective catharsis.

Rated 13 Jan 2013

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ratedargh

Rated 06 Jan 2013

"You can't force me to tell you something I don't know." It shies away from patriotic grandstanding and shows how confused and uncertain the entire operation was. It doesn't condone torture and anyone who suggests it does either didn't see the movie or entirely missed the point. It's a minor point in the movie, anyway and essentially shows how the intel from torture only cluttered everything even further because of inaccuracies. Perfect pacing and incredibly tight.

Rated 06 Jan 2013

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SirStuckey

Rated 12 Jan 2013

Great cast and acting. Doesn't glorify torture nor does it condemn it. Taking a neutral stance probably annoyed people more than taking a side. It's meant to be seen as realistic and impartial which helps makes the dramatized parts seem real. Ends up being a fantastic character study for Chastain.

Rated 12 Jan 2013

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d_drudges

Rated 23 Mar 2013

A cynical attempt to overwrite history to suit the narrative of the US government. 95% fiction and boring all the way through. Torture is used in interrogation instead of you know, to torture someone, and it totally works. "Al-Qaeda" totally existed as an organization. The execution of a sick old man was totally a dangerous operation. A lot of the film is literal torture porn with arabs getting their due. The scene with the monkeys in the cage says it all about Kathryn Bigalow's prejudices.

Rated 23 Mar 2013

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worleyjamers

Rated 15 Jan 2013

An important film. Subtly brilliant and perfectly thrilling, Zero Dark Thirty is beautifully paced.The performances are flawless; Jessica Chastain is incredible. Bigelow's vision and attention to detail is admirable and it truly elevates the experience. The film builds to a thrilling ending that ranks among the most intense endings I've ever seen. Powerfully acted, wonderfully directed, and brilliantly written by Mark Boal, Zero Dark Thirty is easily one of the best films of 2012!

Rated 15 Jan 2013

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dardan

Rated 05 May 2015

Like Feinstein, I had to stop watching. The dishonesty of the film as a historical account - torture didn't lead to the procurement of information necessary for the capture of Bin Laden - as well as in form: us vs them, dehumanizing techniques combined with its popularity and false aesthetic of authenticity, made it unbearable. theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/dec/14/zero-dark-thirty-cia-propaganda

Rated 05 May 2015

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RandallODim

Rated 17 Jan 2013

Zero Dark Thirty's direction and performances help to redeem its dull and sometimes laughable script, but it never really went beyond 'well, this is kinda good' for me. I do however have difficulty believing that anyone could walk out of this film thinking it's pro-torture. Hell, I don't even think it was all that pro-hunt for Osama!

Rated 17 Jan 2013

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BeeDub

Rated 07 Jul 2016

As with The Hurt Locker, Bigelow is far more interested in the interaction of modern military procedures and classic human foibles than in any displays of rah-rah patriotism. The filmmaking is sparse and procedural, yet taut, engaging, and even-handed, thus allowing viewers to draw their own conclusions about whether the decisions and events depicted were "right" or not.

Rated 07 Jul 2016

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emtilt

Rated 20 Jan 2013

I don't get it. I honestly don't know why this was even made into a movie. The characters are all insane, but the film doesn't seem to realize it. It's paced all wrong and comes out massively overlong because of it. Perhaps it would have been better if it were less factually accurate. A dose of fiction would have served it well.

Rated 20 Jan 2013

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Ytadel

Rated 12 Jan 2013

I'm not entirely convinced it has real moral or thematic depth, basically boiling down to a very thorough, well-made, well-acted, high-budget 2.5-hour procedural TV episode set in the Middle East (with bitchin' helicopters). But in that vein it excels for most of its runtime. The ending raid deserves praise for its perfect modulation, somehow being massively narratively and historically climactic but guttingly anticlimactic all at the same time. Chastain does good work.

Rated 12 Jan 2013

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Trooth

Rated 19 Feb 2013

This is a kind of story I just can't force myself to be interested in, no matter how hard I try. I can't keep track of who a lot of characters are, or what's getting accomplished, where things are taking place, what the consequences and stakes are, etc. I'm sure it would help if I watched several hours of cable news shows every day for the past 10 years or so, but I couldn't even keep track of that.

Rated 19 Feb 2013

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KasperL

Rated 21 Dec 2012

Bigelow makes sure it doesn't feel it's length. But the script isn't good enough. Chastain, in an overrated performance, doesn't get much more to do than play cocky and she goes over the top when intimidating Kyle Chandler. Maya needed more depth than simply "I'm super-smart and I'm right". And please don't get me started on some of the dialogue. The best thing about the film is the first act with Jason Clarke which sets things up well and the solid supporting cast.

Rated 21 Dec 2012

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INDYATMN

Rated 04 Feb 2013

It's hard 2 know how much mileage a film like this gets from what is inherently such a compelling behind-the-scenes tale, but Bigelow certainly never drops the ball. Things aren't always clear, esp. at first w/ 1 too many mumbled foreign names tossed around, but every scene is wrung 4 maximum impact. Script-wise the characters never seem less than real; as ugly & flawed under duress as they r steadfastly committed 2 saving lives. It's no small thing 2 live up 2 such an important achievement.

Rated 04 Feb 2013

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Superargo

Rated 05 Jan 2013

Undeniably Bigelow's masterpiece, and undeniably the most significant, most challenging, most in-your-face movie of 2012. Its epic scope and contemplative mood reminded me of APOCALYPSE NOW. For about half its running time, it works as an expert, urgent police procedural. Then it's a top-drawer military drama. Then it's an unbearably tense, sleek and skillful action thriller. It's pretty close to perfect, really. And Chastain is crazy good.

Rated 05 Jan 2013

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omgfridge

Rated 29 Jan 2013

Just don't understand why everyone got so moist about this for.

Rated 29 Jan 2013

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DavidBlast

Rated 14 Jun 2013

Kathryn Fucking Bigelow. No nonsense, no bullshit. 'Zero Dark Thirty' is an uneven ride and an uncomfortable one. The interrogators don't go on soul searching journeys when they burn out, they just relocate. Torture doesn't necessarily lead to results; people just get lucky. If you feel that it fails in engaging you emotionally, consider that the hunt ended as a kill mission in a private residence. Bigelow doesn't want you to feel. She wants you to think.

Rated 14 Jun 2013

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Dunder74

Rated 24 Jan 2013

God, this dragged on for so long. Zero Dark Thirty presents an uninteresting story--face it, the source material isn't exactly riveting stuff-- an awkward script, the worst pacing in a film of 2012 (Peter Jackson just sighed somewhere), a lack of engagement, and Chastain staring, staring at screens, staring at people, staring at nothing at all. A strong supporting cast, especially Clarke, were enough to keep me awake.A film cannot rely solely on its subject matter, and this proves no different.

Rated 24 Jan 2013

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auhasarderik

Rated 07 Jan 2013

Long, straight-faced dramatic thriller culminating in a sensational 20+ minute action sequence. Technique is generally very accomplished at creating tension, but some of the writing choices are dubious, and plotting is murky.

Rated 07 Jan 2013

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timmo

Rated 11 Jan 2013

It deserves credit for realism and design, but if you're going to make a documentary-esque thriller drama, make it interesting. I did not find this interesting, and I barely felt anything watching everything go down -- in what is an intentionally subdued but muddled and confusingly shot action sequence. This is probably the point, but it's not my kind of movie. Why make a movie when a book would have been more compelling and less boring?

Rated 11 Jan 2013

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glumpy_99

Rated 23 Feb 2013

The first 90 minutes are borderline impossible to navigate, as director Bigelow struggles to shape what is ultimately a lot of complicated expository information into a filmic narrative. However the last hour, when the net begins to tighten around Bin Laden, becomes extremely gripping, with a climactic raid sequence which is real edge-of-the-seat stuff. Ultimately wants to be SILENCE OF THE LAMBS meets ZODIAC but does not belong in the pantheon; some good action scenes and decent performances.

Rated 23 Feb 2013

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cowfrappe

Rated 20 Dec 2012

An exquisitely written, directed, and edited film with a powerful performance from Chastain. Might require multiple viewings too fully comprehend all the wonderful details.

Rated 20 Dec 2012

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backwardsuit

Rated 18 May 2016

I can get the moral shitstorm surrounding this movie but seriously, the story itself pretty explicitly portrays torture as both desperately ineffective and destructively inhuman. Maybe some audiences lost their shit because of the ice cold tone that doesn't hold your hand & tell you what the moral is. Thrilling, engaging & intense depiction of American war on terror that forces you to confront some truly grim stuff & then ask yourself was another pitiful bloodstain on the floor really worth it.

Rated 18 May 2016

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Zealot185

Rated 20 Jan 2013

Whereas The Hurt Locker benefited from an air of moral ambiguity by leaving out the context of the Iraq War, it was impossible for Bigelow to take the same approach in a film about the events leading to the death of UBL. Historical accuracy was therefore necessary but, as outlined by torture-expert Jane Mayer in the New Yorker, falsities were portrayed. Unfortunate, because Chastain's character arc of unrelenting search to anti-climactic vindication would be just as powerful sans falsehoods.

Rated 20 Jan 2013

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PerryStroika

Rated 20 Jan 2015

I am not going to sit here and review a film that falsely depicts actionable intelligence being extracted from muslims through torture. This is irresponsibly inaccurate, as actual records show. Torture is useless for getting accurate information, and I'm sick of movies perpetuating the myth that it can.

Rated 20 Jan 2015

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djross

Rated 27 Jul 2013

An obviously fictionalised protagonist, who is nevertheless also very much a cipher, is used to thread together a disparate narrative that walks a very thin line between the amorality of faux-journalistic objectivity and the immorality of jingoism muffled by bad conscience. Like this director's previous, deplorable, Oscar-winning Iraq-war apology, it evinces a wish for praise from all sides by embodying yet another shameless demonstration of Hollywood patriotism while also professing shame.

Rated 27 Jul 2013

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Filligan

Rated 08 Feb 2013

This film is praised as a thriller, but apart from its well-made final act, it's more akin to a visual jigsaw puzzle. You know how when you dream a narrative, the story jumps around a lot and after a while it just becomes a heap of barely connected imagery? That's how most of Zero Dark Thirty feels. Scenes after scenes after scenes after backdrops after subtitles of things that all led up to May 2011. The film never settles, rather it feels as tedious as I'm sure the real life events were.

Rated 08 Feb 2013

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nutcrackr

Rated 14 Jul 2013

Small scenes that attempt summarize the search and demise of UBL. It tries too much by transitioning from 2001 to the eventful night. The dialogue is sometimes atrocious. It labors on inconsequential elements while merely hovering over the important bits. The end mission is 50% pitch black and 50% bright green. The movie strives to preserve facts but does so in a slap-dash manner. If the entire film was about UBL in his compound for 10 years, it would have made for a better movie.

Rated 14 Jul 2013

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juntakinte99

Rated 18 May 2021

I just don't think Bigelow is cut out for this. The docudrama detachment doesn't provide enough nuance or context about the politics of the story. And outside of one showing some of Chastain's frustrations, you don't get the emotion as well. There is one great action sequence that shows the attack on the actual compound, but that is the only cool thing. You don't walk out with any new information nor any excitement because it doesn't have anything to say or show. Avoid.

Rated 18 May 2021

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DougieD

Rated 04 Jan 2013

Bigelow's military procedural detailing the pursuit of Bin Ladin is a masterful achievement in direction and editing. Emotionally distant, but a captivating masterpiece that ranks as one of the best films of 2012. The cast is also at the top of their game, but outshining everyone is Chastain, the great acting chamelion who came out of nowhere last year. She has the tough job of showing a woman who put everything in her life on hold so she could devote herself entirely to catching Bin Ladin.

Rated 04 Jan 2013

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thegreyfox

Rated 29 Jun 2013

Films like this leave me completely cold. I would guess ZD30 was supposed to be a thriller, where we see the puzzle gradually being solved, but it's "documentary" style requires a great deal of early exposition, and when coupled with a mumbling 'quick fire' delivery, it is simply impossible to hear what it going on and therefore see the puzzle being solved. One would also expect some factual accuracy in such a film, which was clearly missing in action!. This is the U-571 or Braveheart of our age

Rated 29 Jun 2013

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turtle

Rated 03 Apr 2013

this movie not true

Rated 03 Apr 2013

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caprimode

Rated 17 Jan 2013

A really competent thriller - Zero Dark Thirty mostly benefits from the "how much of this are we 'supposed' to know" aura that circled its entire production period. The beginning and end are really memorable, and the middle section does a pretty good job itself as a procedural of the "greatest manhunt of all time".

Rated 17 Jan 2013

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natebarrios

Rated 04 Jan 2013

Exceptional cast, exceptional performances. Has a veneer of authenticity and taught tension. Balances both a documented chronology of the most covered manhunt in history, and a character study of the woman who devoted years to achieve it.

Rated 04 Jan 2013

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Barthalen

Rated 25 Apr 2013

Slow-moving and somewhat cold? Sure. But so is the kneecapped hobo locked up in my meatlocker, and he's still fun to watch. Considering the scope of this story I'm surprised the end result was pulled off this well. Focusing on the bureaucracy surrounding terrorism was refreshing and thankfully there was a lack of pro-American flagwaving. The main drawback is the rather undeveloped Strong Female Lead, though Chastain's performance kept me engaged throughout.

Rated 25 Apr 2013

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jeporcher

Rated 20 Feb 2013

Chastain gives one of the poorest performances I've seen this year.

Rated 20 Feb 2013

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caiman

Rated 12 Jan 2013

A good - but not great - docudrama, and a good - but not great - thriller. As a docudrama it needs more factual details, especially about the strategy of the raid itself. As a thriller, it needs more consistency and character development. As it stands it's a solid, interesting showing of a very intriguing real life event. But with a more confident and clear purpose behind it, it could have been much better.

Rated 12 Jan 2013

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XakkMaster

Rated 06 Feb 2017

An entirely well-directed film with intense realism and another impeccable performance from Chastain. The last act really elevates this from good to excellent. Even though we know what's going to happen, the raid of OBL's compound is unforgettable coming from an American perspective.

Rated 06 Feb 2017

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Leonardis

Rated 13 Jan 2013

Intelligent, suspenseful, and well crafted, Zero Dark Thirty and another nice drama from Bigelow. A bit slow but the cast is great. Just about anyone can watch this. Bigelow's cast always works together perfectly.

Rated 13 Jan 2013

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Space Pope

Rated 12 Jan 2013

You know, I went into this knowing what it was about. I knew a decent bit about the whole operation and I knew this movie was trying not to take a ton of liberties with the facts as they're known. Nevertheless, I was briefly excited and then disappointed when they were at Area 51 and didn't bust out the alien ships from Independence Day to go kill Osama. After credits stinger: Zero Dark Thirty is a prequel to Osombie.

Rated 12 Jan 2013

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Hofschneider

Rated 01 Feb 2013

First: This is a great movie! A well written, well played and really well directed film. Then: There is torture and politics. But I think most of the discussions miss Bigelows point. The question is not, if torture is wrong or necessary. The question is: What kind of a nation are you, when you torture. What does hunting Bin Laden do to you. Therefore ZDT is a begining, a purification. History is written. Bin Laden is (really) dead. I saw it on the screen. Now we can start something new. Maybe.

Rated 01 Feb 2013

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VinegarBob

Rated 27 Jan 2014

Was it just me hoping that Maya would get taken out with an IED? What an annoyingly one-dimensional character. The rest of the film is just slick propaganda, with it's view of torture as an acceptable means to an end being particularly troubling.

Rated 27 Jan 2014

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Ofterdingen

Rated 21 May 2013

Good but not worth the hype. Chastain and especially Jennifer Ehle are annoying and unbelieveable characters caught in an uneven narrative.

Rated 21 May 2013

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FrederikA

Rated 08 Feb 2013

A strong beginning and an excellent finale is pulled down by more than an hour of unengaging spy anecdotes and poor attempts at suspense centered around a fairly uncharismatic protagonist. More focus on the latter part of the manhunt would have suited it better.

Rated 08 Feb 2013

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Actionberg

Rated 01 Feb 2013

This film managed to capture so much of the toil, confusion, and human ineptitude that conflict wrought upon the world in the last ten years.I love how it's a work of fiction that's telling us that in the end, we need to stop thinking of it like a story. That's just the kind of beautiful contradiction that can pop up in a work of art that makes it feel so profound. This is Kathryn Bigelow's greatest film (so much less flippant than that last one!), and the best I've seen about modern war.

Rated 01 Feb 2013

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Rufam

Rated 08 Jun 2013

An elaborately paced, even-handed and ultimately rewarding picture. Bigelow persists on the precision and patience of a documentary: on the one hand, it's fascinating to watch this slow, realistic procedure unravel as the tension slowly mounts; on the other, there's little emotional value to the film. Still, it's an utter success for Bigelow and Boal (much greater than the overpraised "Hurt Locker") and for Chastain as well, who turns in an assured performance.

Rated 08 Jun 2013

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WalterMitty

Rated 28 Nov 2021

If you ask me if the rhythm could have been handled better the answer would be "hell yes", the protagonist is almost non existent and you'll discover yourself more interested in the life of everybody else than hers. Nevertheless despite the 2 and half hours of duration the movie sustain the attention for almost all the time, rewarding you with a final entertaining sort of action sequence that I bet has been the base for a lot scenes in "American Sniper". Really solid movie

Rated 28 Nov 2021

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Suture Self

Rated 16 Feb 2013

After reassessing this film, as well as reading about the CIA's involvement, I was wrong. I'm revoking my original review.

Rated 16 Feb 2013

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msprague

Rated 22 Mar 2013

Zero dark boring. And I didn't think Jessica Chastain was that good either. As another review I read mentioned she just did a lot of silent staring at the screen. That's what passes for acting these days?

Rated 22 Mar 2013

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overrated

Rated 28 Aug 2013

Technically it's an improvement over The Hurt Locker, in part because of how cold, creepy and anticlimactic the compound raid is. Regardless, the CIA propaganda enmeshed in the making of this film makes it impossible to recommend.

Rated 28 Aug 2013

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frederic_g54

Rated 17 Feb 2013

Bigelow continues to fill the big shoes she'd left behind, guiding the film to the adrenaline-fueled finale with an assured hand; yet for all of its purported factual accuracy/technical proficiency, ZDT didn't leave me with a plot, let alone a character, substantial enough for me to latch on to. Even the usually reliable Chastain missteps, unable to approach her role with the same level of confidence as her character does. Hardly a great film but slickly put together.

Rated 17 Feb 2013

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JohnSandwich

Rated 09 Jan 2013

This has many good qualities and some terrific scenes, but on this first viewing I wasn't really as as engaged in the proceedings as I had hoped.

Rated 09 Jan 2013

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filmfreak88

Rated 20 Feb 2013

Forget the misguided torture criticism. Bigelow has established herself as a master chronicler of our times with her insane ability to get under our skin. ZDT is an exhaustive, unnerving, and morally complex look at America's dark obsession with the war on terror. The raid itself is flawlessly executed. Chastain is phenomenal and that final shot of Maya on the verge of tears is hauntingly perfect, leaving us with the thought that yes, the decade long manhunt was a success but at what cost?

Rated 20 Feb 2013

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PeaceAnarchy

Rated 31 Oct 2013

Skillful filmmaking and certainly compelling, but it also feel rather exploitative in the way it uses real life footage and audio. The pacing is also an issue, with a lot of time jumps, though seeing as the film is already on the long side I'm not sure the alternative would be better.

Rated 31 Oct 2013

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TheSaberfool

Rated 21 Jan 2013

I'd have to say that this is probably the best adaptation of this material that I could have really hoped for. A decade-long manhunt is documentary fodder, not a traditional Hollywood drama. The story is laid out well, the acting is solid and the direction and pacing are very good. The only place where this movie falls short for me is in the script, which is fine from a plotting perspective, but weak in the characterization and dialogue departments. I did appreciate the apolitical stance taken.

Rated 21 Jan 2013

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fra paolo

Rated 24 Sep 2013

Surprisingly dull, especially once they bring in the military men.

Rated 24 Sep 2013

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LookJabba...

Rated 25 Aug 2013

Zero Dark Thirty is another strong film from Director Kathryn Bigelow. This adaption of the decade-long hunt for OSL is a story that needed to be told and is portrayed believably, and interestingly. Jessica Chastain gives a string leading performance and the stellar supporting cast featuring the likes of Jason Clarke, Kyle Chandler and Joel Edgerton carry the film through its occasional jittery stages. The pacing slows down on occasion but the tension of the last half hour is brilliant.

Rated 25 Aug 2013

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Ag0stoMesmer

Rated 12 Nov 2015

Tantrum-throwing fuckwits totally only tortured Bin Laden's best buddies -so it's all OK. After the sickening, bullshit torture apolagetics we get a tedious hour of military advert à la Captain Phillips. The pits.

Rated 12 Nov 2015

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yoohoo

Rated 29 Jan 2013

Great movie, thrilling story, nice to see an inside look into the hunt for Bin Laden. The story would still have been interesting and exciting even if it weren't about the hunt for UBL. It'd be interesting to see how this movie compares to what really happened/happens behind the closed doors.

Rated 29 Jan 2013

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lintonmyroxy

Rated 30 Jun 2020

The suicide bombing near the hour mark was so obvious but the somber delivery of "allahu akbar" made up for it. I have an irrational love for Kyle Chandler

Rated 30 Jun 2020

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FlorVdE

Rated 07 Dec 2013

Things just happen. The search is immensely boring, just a bunch of people floating lots of Arab names around, and as we know Bin Laden's going to be found we're just waiting for the movie to catch up. The actual raid is not much better, lots of people we don't get to know fumbling around in the dark. No interesting scenes, no directorial flair, no real message. At least Chastain has an interesting face, even if she's mostly gazing into the distance with a troubled look here.

Rated 07 Dec 2013

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woodoo

Rated 12 Aug 2014

Overburdened mil-hist about how much damn money the US Government spends on stealth helicopters from Area 51. Osama gets popped like an FPS badguy.

Rated 12 Aug 2014

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lrampartl

Rated 20 Jan 2013

Sort of like the modern equivalent of 'Tora! Tora! Tora!' - a war film whose first 2/3rds is an emotionless search for facts led by a weak and/or unmotivated cast, with the final act a nice light show that leaves us saying: "So what?".

Rated 20 Jan 2013

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doctor7

Rated 05 Apr 2013

Not tremendously fast-paced but it's nice to watch an espionage film that takes a "slow burn" route for a change. I can't speak to how realistic this was in terms of what actually happened but I can say it was certainly a worthwhile film to catch and, thankfully, it never reaches Hurt Locker levels of questionable believability.

Rated 05 Apr 2013

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fenixdown

Rated 19 Aug 2013

Revenge is a messy business. Makes for great cinema though.

Rated 19 Aug 2013

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checkit

Rated 24 Mar 2013

Exceptionally overrated. Not a terrible movie, but it missing any sort of character development that would cause the audience to become emotionally invested in the movie. Overall it was only mildly interesting.

Rated 24 Mar 2013

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Armilio

Rated 21 Dec 2014

A bad version of Homeland. Jessica Chastain is unbearable. A bit of propaganda too. Good final war-scene, though.

Rated 21 Dec 2014

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GillSolo

Rated 24 Mar 2013

It really wasn't that good. It dragged on and on. The end was the best part. Enough said.

Rated 24 Mar 2013

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Cinema_Asia

Rated 14 Jan 2013

Bigelow has certainly developed as a director learning to weave chaotic city scenes, bureaucracy, and spy craft into a gripping narrative. More interesting is her focus on the government bureaucracy as this complex war machine with a single minded focus on eliminating its enemies. It's evident from each shot she has a fascination with the mechanical, tech, and bureaucratic engine behind everything. Even the CIA operative we follow is shown as essentially an emotionally repressed cog.

Rated 14 Jan 2013

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Duder

Rated 27 Jan 2013

A bit of a let down after Hurt Locker, I thought Bigelow will stay on the human level, but this time she chose story. What I was curious about most was how Maya felt after this operation was finished, but we just see it for a few minutes in a 2,5 hour movie, sad. So distant from feelings, just telling a story. Good acting, good directing and really great sound work but still.. Hurt Locker was a much greater movie..

Rated 27 Jan 2013

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jack parsons

Rated 25 Mar 2013

Strong beginning, painfully dull and dragging middle, expert ending. Actually, I would've preferred a short film focusing on the raid.

Rated 25 Mar 2013

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Paxton

Rated 23 Feb 2013

Kathryn Bigelow has made her Titanic. You know what's coming, you just want it to get there already.

Rated 23 Feb 2013

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Pickpocket

Rated 25 Jan 2013

Does a great job portraying how incompetent the government is but the story presented here is so absurd and inaccurate it's almost laughable. They tried to have it both ways - presenting something that actually happened mixed with whatever the hell point they wanted to make. Having us believe that a 115lb chick was behind everything was not only ridiculous but insulting to everyone who worked hard in killing a monster. Made by someone who clearly didn't know what the fuck she was doing

Rated 25 Jan 2013

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dst7175

Rated 20 Jan 2013

The whole movie I was just waiting to see the navy seals in action.

Rated 20 Jan 2013

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Bagger

Rated 07 Feb 2013

Bigelow, I cannot recall the last time I felt at thouroughly rushed and beaten by a movie. Kudos. I was incredibly skeptical but I do see what all the fuzz is about. You open with a half hour of torture and conclude with one of the best and most tense half-hour shootouts in recent memory. And to those who are critical about the torture elements: Why don't you give the people responsible as much of a hard time as the people making a film about it? A definite must-watch.

Rated 07 Feb 2013

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cagedwisdom

Rated 22 Feb 2013

Very good, but not quite great; Just like The Hurt Locker. Completely entertaining, well acted, well shot, but it lacks something like a beating heart. Very much worth watching, but I don't know if I'll remember this in 5 years.

Rated 22 Feb 2013

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WalkenRoll

Rated 05 Jan 2013

One of the best films of 2012. Or 2013 if you're in the UK. Incredible direction and an amazing performance by Jessica Chastain. Pure entertainment, no matter how you feel about this film politically...

Rated 05 Jan 2013

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AAAutin

Rated 22 Jan 2013

Fuck HOMELAND.

Rated 22 Jan 2013

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TrixRabbi

Rated 15 Jan 2013

The most succinct summation of the decade since 9/11. An open and honest look at America's own monstrous descent into torture capped off by the futility and anti-catharsis of killing Bin Laden.

Rated 15 Jan 2013

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Esmerodo

Rated 03 Mar 2013

Tedious & dreary. Endless torture scenes with cold CIA observers.

Rated 03 Mar 2013

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Moribunny

Rated 09 Jan 2013

Boal researches his scripts well, but this one is more clearly a dramatization of the events. ZDT portrays "enhanced interrogation" and "collateral damage" honestly, but sidesteps ethical discussion. Its focus on one attractive young CIA agent and a few of her helpers produces a relatable and iconic heroine to drive the narrative, at the cost of making the hunt for Bin Laden seem like a one-woman operation. Ultimately an intelligent and captivating thriller, if constrained in its historicity.

Rated 09 Jan 2013

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xacviant

Rated 11 Jan 2013

How one reacts to ZERO DARK THIRTY will depend a lot on one's political consciousness. Not being strongly political myself, I was impressed by Kathryn Bigelow's punchy direction, the top-notch production values, and the acting: Jessica Chastain crafts an effective portrait of obsessive determination bordering on madness, while Jason Clarke, Mark Strong, and Kyle Chandler give good support. It's damned long, and it does tread into some questionable moral territory at times, but it's compelling.

Rated 11 Jan 2013

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bakcheia

Rated 06 Jan 2013

jessica chastain y u so gud @ akting

Rated 06 Jan 2013

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BillyShears

Rated 27 Jan 2013

Chastaaaaaaain

Rated 27 Jan 2013

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td888

Rated 12 Jan 2013

What can I say that other's haven't said here already. It is a gripping tale of a woman's determination to accomplish something that a lot of people have been waiting for but maybe forgot or gave up on. The hunt and termination of Osama. I was really looking forward to see this film and had very high expectations. And to be honest, they were all met. A must see.

Rated 12 Jan 2013

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Icarus

Rated 18 May 2013

While I appreciated certain things about the movie, particularly the way that it raises tensions about the effectiveness of torture as well as the chilling black screen audio montage that opens the film, I found the lead character to be the weak link. This would have been fine had she been portrayed as merely a cog in the machine, but to the degree that the filmmakers want to single her out, she needs the complexity of a real human being, a complexity that's just not there.

Rated 18 May 2013

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Wezzo

Rated 28 Jan 2013

Jessica Chastain is unquestionably brilliant, and her performance is probably my second-favouite female performance of last year; Jason Clarke, Kyle Chandler and Jennifer Ehle also offer superb, nuanced performances that deserve recognition. In terms of the actual events of the movie, things remain high-strung the whole way through but the 25-minute sequence leading to Bin Laden's capture is particularly, blisteringly good; unfathomably intense. A gripping, intelligent movie. full rvw @ lbxd

Rated 28 Jan 2013

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decathect

Rated 15 Mar 2013

iron man trailer immediately preceding the film: "No politics here. Just good ol' fashioned revenge." As if.

Rated 15 Mar 2013

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ABUNCHOFCATS

Rated 05 Sep 2013

Taking into consideration how much I detested The Hurt Locker and its obvious plot beats and extreme devil-may-cry bomb expert this movie surpassed my basement low expectations and then kept going. Barring some questionable "we don't have intel now because we don't torture people" and not-necessarily true portrayal of the compound attack/assassination, this movie is really well made. Chastain is great and the movie is well paced and thrilling.

Rated 05 Sep 2013

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maakal

Rated 27 Jun 2014

Slow building but by the end, it's become totally gripping. There was a lot of controversy that the film was pro-torture, but if anything I see it being more anti-torture... exposing its useless and dehumanizing brutality. Didn't love Chastain's performance... I wish they'd have gotten someone a little more realistic for that role. All that said, a great film.

Rated 27 Jun 2014

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aney

Rated 17 Jan 2013

A very engaging movie, well written and well acted. Ultimately it's just a competentely made movie and that's about it. But why oh why do all the movies have to be 2 hours 40mins long.

Rated 17 Jan 2013

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damil

Rated 20 Feb 2013

A few times, I kind of wished it had just been a documentary, as it was quite dry & moved from one factual event to another. However, when the human drama actually came into it, I was glad for it. Chastain and the rest of the cast were great. I could agree that the middle part of the film goes on a bit long, but considering the story takes place over ten years, it seems appropriate to me. It may not be totally engaging for its entire running time, but it's a very well made film & I recommend it.

Rated 20 Feb 2013

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getmoney

Rated 26 Feb 2014

Ultimately, it's a relatively balanced and engaging movie, but like many Bigelow films its more of a character study about obsessive, adrenaline-fueled characters who totally immerse themselves into dangerous occupations. This is still mostly about the people depicted, which is very watchable with a cast as talented as this film has.

Rated 26 Feb 2014

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gecmartins

Rated 30 Jan 2015

It's good, but I can't say much about it. Maya isn't easy to sympathize with, though keeping up with the involved politics was probably the best part.

Rated 30 Jan 2015

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peyrin

Rated 17 Jul 2019

Pro-torture propaganda. despicable.

Rated 17 Jul 2019

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Matthew Parkinson

Rated 09 Aug 2015

Intense, thrilling, and anchored by an incredible lead performance from Jessica Chastain - not to mention the great supporting work - this account of taking down bin Laden is a remarkable film.

Rated 09 Aug 2015

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MovieFarts

Rated 12 May 2015

Even terrorists fart.

Rated 12 May 2015

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CloseFriend

Rated 24 Jan 2013

Bigelow continues her directorial arc, with its emphasis on visceral naturalism, which has developed since Strange Days. I didn't see the torture scenes as glamorizing the events. Point of fact, I could tell Bigelow and Boal prioritized fairness and impartiality in their storytelling. Unfortunately, the film's second act plods and its third act feels tonally incongruous. I would accuse anyone who watched this film and left feeling justified in their bigotry of not REALLY watching it at all.

Rated 24 Jan 2013

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Spanks

Rated 02 Nov 2013

Chris Pratt as the LPO of SEAL Team Six is about as sad as casting goes, and as much as I like Chastain, her performance here was one of the most overrated in 2012. Still, Bigelow gives a much superior film in every way over The Hurt Locker. And I'll admit it--the torture scenes were my favorite part of the whole thing. Go me.

Rated 02 Nov 2013

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tef

Rated 02 Feb 2013

It's fine. Overlong and I didn't feel anything regarding the torture or the execution. Intelligence work is fundamentally boring.

Rated 02 Feb 2013

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