Zero Dark Thirty
*** ½
R
157 minutes
Zero Dark Thirty is a fascinating, intense account of the decade long hunt for Osama Bin Laden and the eventual raid on a compound in Pakistan that led to his death. Kathryn Bigelow’s film uses a clinical, procedural like approach to tell this story as the viewer follows Maya, a (fictional) CIA analyst obsessed with finding Bin Laden. After years of dead ends and false hopes she finally is vindicated when she finds the house in which he is hiding and a covert military operation takes him down.
The film displays a remarkable distance from politics and tells the story in an almost unbiased way. Some of the most disturbing scenes involve the harsh interrogation methods (AKA “torture) of enemy combatants. These scenes are filmed in such a way such that people on both sides of the issue could claim their view is represented.
While quite long, I never found Zero Dark Thirty boring. The final act that shows the raid on Bin Laden’s compound is extremely intense and gives the viewer a new respect for the Navy SEALS that performed this dangerous mission.
Notes for parents: Zero Dark Thirty is rated R for the harsh interrogation scenes as well as the bloody raid on Bin Laden’s house. There is also frequent profanity. I can see how older mature teens can watch the movie and gain insight into current events.
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Lincoln movie review
Lincoln
** ½
PG-13
150 minutes
Director Steven Spielberg’s latest drama focuses on a very specific time in Abraham Lincoln’s second term as president showing how he convinced the House of Representatives to pass the 13th Amendment which abolished slavery. The film serves as a lesson in politics as we see Lincoln work with members of his cabinet and Congress to pass the bill before a peace treaty is signed with the South. It is fascinating to hear some of the arguments made for and against the bill. Some use logic and reason while others rely on pure rhetoric. Daniel Day-Lewis’s performance as Lincoln is outstanding as are the performances of other actors such as James Spader, David Strathairn and Tommy Lee Jones.
Unordinary, the movie is slowly paced and too long. My interest came and went at various times. I was hoping for more of a biography or character study of Lincoln and while we get some of that, most of the script is devoted to long speeches.
Notes for parents: Lincoln is suitable for most teens and adults. There are a few scenes showing the violence of war and a few profanities (including one F-bomb). The only other issue is that some people may find the movie boring.
** ½
PG-13
150 minutes
Director Steven Spielberg’s latest drama focuses on a very specific time in Abraham Lincoln’s second term as president showing how he convinced the House of Representatives to pass the 13th Amendment which abolished slavery. The film serves as a lesson in politics as we see Lincoln work with members of his cabinet and Congress to pass the bill before a peace treaty is signed with the South. It is fascinating to hear some of the arguments made for and against the bill. Some use logic and reason while others rely on pure rhetoric. Daniel Day-Lewis’s performance as Lincoln is outstanding as are the performances of other actors such as James Spader, David Strathairn and Tommy Lee Jones.
Unordinary, the movie is slowly paced and too long. My interest came and went at various times. I was hoping for more of a biography or character study of Lincoln and while we get some of that, most of the script is devoted to long speeches.
Notes for parents: Lincoln is suitable for most teens and adults. There are a few scenes showing the violence of war and a few profanities (including one F-bomb). The only other issue is that some people may find the movie boring.
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