Despite all the controversy about the torture scenes in Zero Dark Thiry, they seemed tame to me compared with some of the torture scenes I watched in 24. Zero Dark Thirty tells the story of the hunt for bin Laden through the character of a CIA analyst only referred to as Maya (played intensely by the striking redhead, Jessica Chastain). For a decade, the CIA hunts for bin Laden, but comes up empty. As set-back follows set-back, Maya becomes more and more obsessed with finding bin Laden’s location. And, once it’s found, director Kathryn Bigelow shows us the S.E.A.L. Team Six mission in Real Time. I was on the edge of my seat for the last half-hour. GRADE: A
This one is on out list for Florida, along with LINCOLN and several others.
ZERO DARK THIRTY involved me, Jeff. I’m sure you and Jackie, being New Yorkers, will find the opening of the movie very emotional.
Although (rather pointedly) Kathryn Bigelow’s peers did not give her a best director Oscar nomination, every review for this film that I’ve read has effusive in its praise. I’ll definitely see this one.
It’s all Hollywood politics, Drongo. Kathryn Bigelow already won a BEST DIRECTOR Oscar so in the eyes of some, that disqualifies her from winning this year. Plus, some critics hold the torture scenes against her (although all evidence shows they actually occurred).
One of the best movies of the year. In this case, it is the far left that is hurting Bigelow, I think. What good comes of pretending torture is not part of our strategy. Even though the evidence that it works is very slim. Not as hard to watch as AMOUR.
AMOUR is on our list, but I’m not rushing to see it, Patti. The torture in ZERO DARK THIRTY doesn’t approach the torture in a Quentin Tarantino movie.
AMOUR is on our list too. I know what you mean, George. Anyone who has watched Jack Bauer extract information will not be shocked by ZERO DARK THIRTY!
Patti, you’re right of course. It’s lefties like Ed Asner running a campaign against Bigelow and the movie. I wonder how many of them have even seen it.
Jack Bauer could teach the CIA some things about extracting information, Jeff.
Although tactics like sleep deprivation might not appear too extreme on film, the actual physical and mental tolls are enormous. Even if the film does not depict the most extreme forms of torture, anyone paying attention to the news for the past 10 years knows that the US has used brutal forms of torture on detainees (including mock executions). That being said, the degree of torture should not be relevant. Torture is wrong. Torture is wrong because it violates the laws and rights upon which this country was founded (as well as international law). Torture is wrong because it is not reliable. Torture is wrong because it is inhumane. I love this quote from MLK- “Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal.”
Well said, Lauren! I don’t condone torture, but ZERO DARK THIRTY includes events that took place under the Bush Administration that admitted it used “enhanced interrogation techniques.”
Unfortunately torture is still happening under the Obama Administration. Even American citizens, like Bradley Manning are being tortured.
More pressure is building to cease torture by the U.S. Government, Lauren. I, like plenty of other people, also question whether torture works.