Zero Dark ThirtyMovie Reviews


  • Go Based on 22,176 reviews
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  • Must Go!
    Written January 22, 2013

    my pick for Oscar this year

    by chichicinema

    This is a well-crafted, suspenseful and compelling film. Has a documentary feel but is so much more entertaining.
    My heart was in my throat for the second half due to the suspenseful build up of elements.

    Jessica Chastain was excellent as was the entire cast. Only unfortunate casting is James Gandolfini as Leon Panetta. The audience actually tittered as soon as he came on-screen. It's a real disbelief breaker when Tony Soprano steps on as Sec of Defense.

    Must see this film.

    • 5 out of 5 found this review helpful.
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  • Must Go!
    Written January 14, 2013

    Excellent docudrama

    by jhs39

    What could have been a dry two and a half hour exploration of the hunt for Osama Bin Laden over more than a decade was a gripping and surprisingly fast paced film. It's a shame Kathryn Bidelow didn't get an Academy Award nomination for director but Zero Dark Thirty was easily one of the best films of the year.

    • 6 out of 7 found this review helpful.
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  • Must Go!
    Written January 12, 2013

    A relentless docudrama with intense intiative

    by HoodCritic1

    Kathryn Bigelow has mastered the concept of "quiet tension" and that mastery was in full effect in "Zero Dark Thirty." Working with Mark Boal's screenplay really brought the story of the 10 year pursuit of Bin Laden to an emotional high and the direction was perfectly paced. Jessica Chastain was superb as Maya, the CIA operative who spearheaded the hunt for Bin Laden and his inner circle. The scene where Squad 6 raided the compound was as epic as it gets. It was like watching it happen in real life. This is a film that can't be missed.

    • 5 out of 5 found this review helpful.
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  • Go
    Written January 22, 2013

    Rock solid

    by shl4wine

    If you are a student of our efforts to track down and kill those responsible for the worst act of terrorism on American soil you should go see this move!

    • 5 out of 5 found this review helpful.
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  • No
    Written January 19, 2013

    Real snoozer

    by gina_cam

    This was a real snoozer! The story line was hard to follow.....the main character was "unrealistic!" and the scenes and characters seemed to jumped all over the place, it was just confusing.....ppl were leaving and someone behind us was snoring....LOUDLY, I can't say that I blame him.......bottom line, wait for Zero Dark Thirty comes on cable!

    • 6 out of 7 found this review helpful.
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  • Must Go!
    Written January 13, 2013

    great movie

    by muni2678

    This is a good movie its not a action movie ,but a thriller,action movie similiar to seal team six free on netflix and comcast .This movie has brutal interrigation tactics.This is the reality of war on terrorism and ,what are the limitations of justice.What we were willing to do to capture binladen.See this movie and enjoy it .

    • 5 out of 5 found this review helpful.
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  • Must Go!
    Written January 14, 2013

    Zero Dark Thirty

    by pleazthesweaz

    The question of did it actually happen this way is still up for debate since only those who were actually there know for sure. But there are 2 things that aren't debatable. There were people who devoted their careers to finding Osama bin Laden to the point of obsession and brave men put their lives on the line to finally make it happen. The movie has you asking questions about "enhanced interrogation" like did it happen? Should it have happened? Would you have the stomach do it? If not, is it right for you to expect someone else to?
    At the end of the day it is a movie, but one that brave men and women live some version of every day. I found the desperate search for puzzles pieces and the navigation of red tape fascinating. I appreciated that director Kathryn Bigelow didn't over power the nail-biting final scenes with music and loved watching Jessica Chastain transform from queasy bystander to hardened agent. On the Pleaz the Sweaz scale, this was worth full price.

    • 35 out of 65 found this review helpful.
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  • Must Go!
    Written January 22, 2013

    Must Go!

    by Jujoo

    Zero Dark Thirty was great. It captured my attention from the very beginning and was constantly intense until the end. Even though I had read and/or knew about a lot of the events they were mentioning in the years leading up to May 2011, it kept me intrigued throughout the whole movie. I would definitely recommend that you go see it on the big screen as the last 30 minutes, a lot of which are in the first person view, make you feel as if you were there yourself.

    • 6 out of 7 found this review helpful.
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  • Must Go!
    Written January 14, 2013

    Seen it twice!!

    by jmglewis

    Movie was very well done and seemed to be based on all the information I've read to date. No need to follow the organized planted reviews by the same people who go on Amazon.com and write bad reviews about books they disagree with politically but have never read.

    • 20 out of 35 found this review helpful.
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  • Must Go!
    Written January 13, 2013

    Well Crafted Docudrama.

    by

    What can be said about this movie...It is very well done. I was surprised how difficult some of the scenes were to watch as I felt a great sadness in seeing what was done to end a ten year hunt. The movie is not an action packed movie like Act of Valor but rather an attempt to show Americans what happens in the world of intelligence and anti-terrorism. Like I said this movie will strike a nerve even if you are not naive to tactics of intelligence gathering but I felt that everything was portrayed in a way that could be understood.

    Overall a good movie with outstanding actors that was visually striking.

    • 7 out of 9 found this review helpful.
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  • So-so
    Written January 12, 2013

    Zero Dark Thirty

    by artnmarli

    I don't understand the hype. This movie was ok, but very long and slow; a better editor would have cut at least 30 minutes out of it. Given the length of the movie, what's also odd is when they skipped over things, making the viewer have to process and figure out what happened. Don't let the talk about torture deter you; I am very squeamish and was perfectly able to handle it. The last scene, however, made me furious -- a gratuitous typical female scene that was way out of character. Overall, if you want to see a historical thriller, go see Argo which was way, way better.

    • 5 out of 5 found this review helpful.
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  • Must Go!
    Written January 14, 2013

    Thrilling

    by cjbreece

    I loved it all. Thought it was directed as well or better than Argo, the other political true-life thriller of the year. I was not so impressed with the acting, but it was still an emotional experience to watch the story of UBL's undoing come together.

    • 6 out of 7 found this review helpful.
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  • So-so
    Written January 13, 2013

    Historically significant but tedious

    by thepenster

    I cannot say that this film is "good".
    Being based on a true story makes it significant, but also tedious and too long.
    Tha acting is competent but not outstanding . I feel like, because it covers such sensitive material, people are judging it to be better than it is. If had not been based on truth it never would have been a movie. I understand the director's quest, and it is a noble one, but the result is not satisfying.

    • 5 out of 5 found this review helpful.
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  • Go
    Written January 13, 2013

    Was ok..Book "No Easy Day" was better..

    by karamikerichard

    Exciting etc..Hollywood doesnt do these real life based stories justice..just thought the book "No Easy Day" explained more detail I guess as always..looking forward to seeing "Lone Survivor" on the Big screen..not crazy about walburg playing lead role..the book is a MUST read !

    • 7 out of 9 found this review helpful.
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  • Must Go!
    Written January 22, 2013

    Go see this movie!

    by crassgrl

    I enjoyed this movie. I thought it was made well and told the story well. Even though it's based on real events and you might know what's going to happen, I still found it very suspenseful. I could see why Jessica Chastain has won best actress awards so far. You'll get your money's worth on this movie.

    • 5 out of 5 found this review helpful.
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Zero Dark Thirty Movie Reviews + Ratings

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ElizabelleM Ever since I watched Zero Dark Thirty (4 days ago) I'm seeing the word "tradecraft" everywhere.

7 days ago.

lisalush32 Watched Zero Dark Thirty last nite would normally hate those kinda films .. But I loved it think ending could have been better though

7 days ago.

INFAMOUZ_KING Just saw zero dark thirty... crazy ass movie.

7 days ago.

Leonaa_Always Finally watched Zero Dark Thirty

7 days ago.

yjxdi Zero dark thirty was gay af & i love these type of movies

7 days ago.

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Exclusive Features

Cast Interviews Exclusive Cast Interivew Jessica Chastain, Jason Clarke, Jennifer Ehle and Kyle Chandler chat about the upcoming war thriller. The Frontrunners - Jessica Chastain Interview Fandango's Chief Correspondent Dave Karger interviews Jessica Chastain about her film 'Zero Dark Thirty' in this episode of 'The Frontrunners.' More Films on Fandango's Award Watch Valentine's Day Movies