Zero Dark Thirty (2012)

DVD COVER/SIDE

Length of film: 157 Minutes

Rated: R

Genre: Drama, History, Thriller

Director: Kathryn Bigelow

Starring: Jessica Chastain, Joel Edgerton, Chris Pratt, James Gandolfini, Jason Clarke, Navdeep Singh, Homayoun Ershadi, Daniel Lapaine

IMDB Rank: 7.4/10

Part 1 Time: 94 Minutes

Part 2 Time:  63 Minutes

Where does the first part end? Maya (Jessica Chastain) and Tim (Daniel Lapaine) talk following a failed drive by shooting by Al-Qaeda terrorists on Maya.

Final line of dialogue on the first part:  “We’ll keep up on the surveillance as best we can” Tim, the station chief states to Maya.

First line of dialogue on the second part: No dialogue, scene shows surveillance on suspected house where Abu Ahmed al-Kuwaiti lives.

How jarring is it when the first part ends? Somewhat, Maya is clearly in danger and has been identified by Al-Qaeda terrorists. It will be too dangerous moving forward to have her engage in surveillance at the ground level.

Which part is better? Part one gives many details as to the surveillance, detention, and interrogation techniques used by the CIA towards suspected Al-Qaeda terrorists. Part two’s highlights the planning and execution of Operation Neptune Spear. Although part one gives many details on the back story of United States’ involvement in the Middle East, part two is somewhat better as the details of Operation Neptune Spear are presented resulting in the death of Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

Academy Awards: Best Sound Editing, Best Picture (Nominated), Best Leading Actress (Jessica Chastain- Nominated), Best Writing (Nominated), Best Film Editing (Nominated)