Chronicling History

While husband James Cameron is busy making his kind of larger-than-life epic cinema, Katherine Bigelow has proved her mettle by creating drama in the everyday situations. Having set the expectations with her earlier film Hurt Locker, which was a welcome change at the Academy, she has only set the bar higher with her latest Zero Dark Thirty.

The film looks at all the events from the 9/11 attacks to the night Osama Bin Laden was finally overcome. Through the eyes of protagonist Maya, we see the journey of a decade, where an elite team of intelligence and military operatives, working on- site in Asia, committed to a solitary mission: find and kill Osama Bin Laden. Written by Mark Boal, who collaborates with Bigelow once again after Hurt Locker, brings you the unseen side of the most popular story of our time. History's most sought after man and history's most watched chase for this man - all brought to you in a manner which makes you feel like reading a really honest first hand account.

Bigelow continues the Hurt Locker like treatment which renders a real-life ambience to the activities on screen without glorifying the actions nor shying away from showing the stark cold-blooded gunning down of victims inside the compound. The fact that most of the adrenaline pumping action happens in real time makes it even harder to assess and let sink. However, it would be wrong to call such a film entertaining because it isn't the kind of cinematic drama that one is used to. Butnonetheless, the overall narrative and the visuals are interesting and intriguing to say the least. The film gets most of the facts accurate save for minor dramatic liberties that are a given in any fiction.

Impeccable characterisation, minimalist impact dialogues and honest filmmaking are at the heart of Zero Dark Thirty and that is what makes it one of the finest films of the year. And while some would comment about the lack of emotion in Hurt Locker, it's not the case with this film.

Jessica Chastain is a gem in her role and plays one of those characters whom you feel for. Her composure, body language, aging and expressions are going to make it into some acting textbooks in the coming years.

Zero Dark Thirty is an experience worth having in a cinema hall. The film overwhelms you, intrigues you, makes you want to be alert and present, to understand the gravity of every moment. Such films come but once in many years, and when they do, all you have to do is bow down to their greatness and cherish the experience of viewing.

Rating - 4 out of 5

Published in DNA After Hrs (Pune) on February 16, 2013