This film is riveting.
It is a fictional look at the hunt for and eventual killing of Osama bin Laden, the man who is believed to have masterminded the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States.
Jessica Chastain rightfully won the best actress in a drama at the Golden Globes. She has also been nominated for best actress at this year’s Oscars.
Chastain plays CIA officer Maya who is obsessed with finding a courier used by bin Laden to track him down. While some see her quest as a wild goose chase, she stands her ground and is a constant thorn in the side of those in charge.
There has been some controversy about how torture is portrayed in the film. It appears the movie’s makers fall on the side that torture is an unfortunate but necessary part of protecting people from terrorists.
While not saying any names, the film shows how the United States administration’s view on torture changed after the notorious events at Abu Ghraib. According to U.S. filmmaker Michael Moore, the CIA had to rely on detective work once torture was no longer an option.
There are some big surprises that have the audience jumping at times.
All in all this is a good movie.
Murphy can be reached at: Lojano@comcast.net