9/11/2001 is a forgettable date. There’s no
particular emotion that you can attach to this event. The first real feeling of
being ‘unsafe’ crept into our consciousness when the most powerful country in
the world was attacked by a bunch of terrorists and almost brought down to its
knees.
Barely a few days after 9/11, a gruesome
face was revealed to the world. That face was supposed to be responsible for
the terrorist strikes, which brought down the World Trade Centre twin towers
and took over 3000 lives. Soon, the face became synonymous with everything evil
in the world. He became the ‘mascot’, so to speak, for terrorism. It was none
other than the Al Qaeda leader, Osama Bin Laden. The US called for his head and
began a mission to hunt the man down and eliminate him. In this film, the team,
which is hunting down the most dreaded terrorist in the world, is spearheaded
(although not initially) by Maya (Jessica Chastain). Other CIA persons include
Dan (Jason Clarke), Joseph Bradley (Kyle Chandler) and Jessica (Jennifer Ehle).
The film concentrates on the major events that lead to the killing of Osama in
May 2011. In the interim, we are shown how the CIA goes about doing their job,
which includes interrogation, building a good network in a foreign country,
keeping an eye out for every possible clue and identifying connections between
statements given by criminals/terrorists. It is a tough job, and the film shows
it as it is. However, what the audiences are made to miss out on is proper
explanation about every clue that the CIA gets in its run-up to finding Bin
Laden. Names are thrown in, major terrorist strikes such as the 2005 London
bombing and the Marriott Hotel blast among others are featured, more names are
thrown in, assassination attempts are made on the CIA officers and more names
are thrown in. This entire Osama manhunt is an absolutely brilliant subject to
capture on celluloid. However, trying to fit in 8 years into an hour-and-half
(regarding the first half of the film) is an impossible job. If one wishes to
educate the viewer, more information should be dispensed through the work of
art (film, book anything!). Here, it’s just one random event followed by
another and suddenly, voila! We found Bin Laden’s carrier! YOU could have, but
how do WE know? The main purpose for anyone to watch this particular film would
be, besides being entertained, to actually know about how the US went about
looking for the Al Qaeda leader. Sadly, it is not clear enough. 
The second-half, in comparison, is way more
superior, owing to the fact that this section only covers a year or so in the
lead-up to the final attack. It’s much more understandabe, swift-paced and
follows a linear path (as all real-life based films should, ideally!). The
actual mission ‘Operation Geronimo’ is definitely going to keep you on the edge
of your seats. The final 30 minutes of the film are gripping and filled with
emotionally-charged moments. As far as the performances go, everybody in the
cast has done a fine job. Chastain has delivered a brilliant performance.
However, it is not the best of the year. The locations could have been a huge
problem. All the ‘Pakistan’ areas shown in the film were actually shot in
Chandigarh, India. The locations have been perfectly altered to be made to look
like they are cities in Pakistan. There are a few blips, such as shops bearing
Hindu names and cars of Indian-make, but you can’t pan them down for
everything. Their efforts to convert a small section of Chandigarh into
Pakistan are commendable.
The screenplay, as already pointed out,
bears several flaws. This film could have actually been a documentary series.
The subject, as already mentioned, is first-rate and the story deserves to be
told in a truthful, elaborate manner. 'Zero Dark Thirty' can be watched for
entertainment. However, to know what actually happened, start looking for books
and articles. Kathryn Bigelow, the director, has made a half-baked real-life drama. It is highly unsurprising that she hasn't bagged an Oscar nomination for Best Direction.
Just a thought - Don't believe the solution
to terrorism lies in capital punishments, air raids, counter bombings, revenge
and retribution. Let’s give peace a chance, till they don’t start doing the
same.
Shivom
Oza
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