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`Zero Dark Thirty' Is Massive, Meticulous and Authentic (film of OBL Capture Operation)
Associated Press ^ | 12/03/2012 01:21:34 PM PST | By Christy Lemire

Posted on 12/03/2012 4:00:01 PM PST by drewh

Of course it took billions of dollars over 10 years and a multitude of people - many who gave their lives - to make this mission a success. Bigelow and "Hurt Locker" screenwriter-producer Mark Boal have accomplished the difficult feat of taking all that time, travel, investigation and frustration and depicting it thoroughly but also efficiently.

The attention to detail, to getting it right each step of the way, is evident in everything from the dialogue to the production design to the lighting.

This is pure, unadorned storytelling, an effort to recreate what happened with absolute authenticity and zero excess. Methodical and detached as it is, "Zero Dark Thirty" may actually leave some viewers a bit cold; there are plenty of moments of danger in crowded streets and claustrophobic questioning rooms, but some of the legwork is tedious and it doesn't always pay off.

But the drama is inherent from the very beginning and sneaks up on you by the end. We know what happened, and we know why it matters.

Bigelow's extensive staging of the May 1, 2011, raid is a prime example of virtuoso action filmmaking. Set in the dead of a moonless night - hence the title, inspired by military jargon - the Navy SEALs' mission is both massive and intimate, a mix of ominous aerial shots of stealthy Black Hawk helicopters and infrared vision in dark bedrooms and corridors. Every bit of effort and emotion has led to this lengthy sequence, and we're invested, too.

There's no riding off into the sunset once the mission is complete, no swell of inspirational music; Alexandre Desplat's score is suitably understated, too. Just a few heartfelt hugs and some tears, all of them hard-earned.

(Excerpt) Read more at dailybulletin.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: New York
KEYWORDS: binladen; hollywood; manhunt; moviereview
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To: FlingWingFlyer

Gotta laugh at these clowns or they will drive you crazy. lol


41 posted on 12/03/2012 5:46:14 PM PST by TigersEye (Who is John Galt?)
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To: TigersEye

I agree. Thanks for the laughs.


42 posted on 12/03/2012 6:05:59 PM PST by FlingWingFlyer (Don't tax me bro! Tax that guy over there!)
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To: Brilliant
It will be interesting to see the ad campaign for Zero Dark Thirty, how will they get conservatives to the theatre without alienating the flaming liberal Clooneys in Hollyweird?

Maybe a voice over from Clint Eastwood...:)

43 posted on 12/03/2012 6:13:02 PM PST by drewh
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To: drewh
I read, No Easy Day, and will see this movie and compare the information and interpretation.
44 posted on 12/03/2012 6:48:14 PM PST by vetvetdoug
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To: vetvetdoug

I read that book as well, is that the source material?


45 posted on 12/03/2012 6:59:43 PM PST by drewh
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To: Bulwyf
yup...
46 posted on 12/03/2012 7:06:23 PM PST by Chode (American Hedonist - *DTOM* -ww- NO Pity for the LAZY)
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To: Drew68
She's been great for many years. Check out her earlier film "Near Dark." It puts all other vampire movies to shame.
47 posted on 12/03/2012 7:12:04 PM PST by rabidralph
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To: Bigg Red

What you said, same here. If I want to listen to Obama’s BS I’ll watch the news.


48 posted on 12/03/2012 7:18:09 PM PST by tumblindice (America's founding fathers: All armed conservatives.)
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To: drewh

I don’t know. Conservatives weren’t too high on Clint after glorifying euthaniasia in Million Dollar Baby, and then Letters From Iwo Jima and the “we need to see things form the Japanese point of view” and understand how they felt deal. A few jabs at Obama made that all ok, though, I guess.


49 posted on 12/03/2012 8:17:16 PM PST by jeltz25
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To: vetvetdoug

the female CIA analyst is in that book, but the guy makes her out to not really have a major role. It sounds like in the movie she’s the driving force and pretty much discovers Bin Laden all by herself and personally directs the mission.

From what I’ve read, and Ive read a number of books and articles on the subject, the courier and the main thread were all developed starting in 2002 and beyond and this CIA analyst was brought in towards the end after they thought they found him and wanted to red team the issue to see what others thought.

Sounds like the film inflates her role a bit, which is understandable I guess.

Very good reviews so far.


50 posted on 12/03/2012 8:21:37 PM PST by jeltz25
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Comment #51 Removed by Moderator

To: tumblindice

If I want to listen to Obama’s BS I’ll watch the news.

&&&
Same here.

And that includes FOX News Channel. I am now down to watching Greta on DVR and, if I am in the room when the husband plays the show, part of Bill O’Blowhard. He likes BOR’s “Memo” but rarely watches much of anything else on the show.

Just a few years ago, we had FNC on for quite a few hours each day.


52 posted on 12/04/2012 5:08:32 AM PST by Bigg Red (Sorry, Mr. Franklin, I guess we couldn't keep it.)
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To: drewh

I’ll pass on this, it may not even make my Bluray collection later on.


53 posted on 12/04/2012 5:14:01 AM PST by Eye of Unk (A Civil Cold War in America is here, its already been declared.)
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To: jeltz25

The SEALS spoke highly of the CIA analyst and her ethics, politics, and work.


54 posted on 12/04/2012 2:01:08 PM PST by vetvetdoug
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To: vetvetdoug

agreed. but some of the reviews Ive read make it seem as if the film puts her up as the mastermind of the whole operation, which didn’t appear to be the case based on what Ive read.

I’ll really have to wait until I see the film to render a verdict.

But as Jimmy Stewart said in Liberty Valance when the truth runs up against the legend, print the legend.

I also found it interesting that the movie apparently shows the attack on the CIA base by that Jordanian double agent in 2009 that killed 7 operatives including the base commander(the worst single attack on the CIA ever).

For all the talk of Obama getting credit for Bin Laden and soaking up the accolades I wonder if any reviewers will mention that Obama was also in office when that attack happened and ask about the responsibility he bears for it. I doubt it.


55 posted on 12/04/2012 3:09:11 PM PST by jeltz25
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To: rabidralph

Yep....”Near Dark” was the best vampire movie ever.
Hurt Locker was great too. She’s very talented.
I’m looking forward to seeing “Zero Dark Thirty”


56 posted on 12/04/2012 3:19:09 PM PST by Blackirish
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To: Blackirish

Ditto.


57 posted on 12/04/2012 4:33:55 PM PST by rabidralph
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To: ResisTyr

I think.......BinLaden’ s head is in a box on a ranch in Crawford, Texas.


58 posted on 12/04/2012 4:38:21 PM PST by Toespi
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