"Zero Dark Thirty" redirects here. For other uses, see Zero Dark Thirty (disambiguation).

Zero Dark Thirty
Theatrical release poster
Directed by | Kathryn Bigelow
Produced by | Kathryn Bigelow Colin Wilson Greg Shapiro Ted Schipper Megan Ellison[1]
Written by | Mark Boal
Starring | Jessica Chastain Chris Pratt Kyle Chandler ?dgar Ram?rez Joel Edgerton Mark Strong Scott Adkins Ricky Sekhon Taylor Kinney Chris Pratt Jason Clarke Jennifer Ehle Mark Duplass Frank Grillo Stephen Dillane
Music by | Alexandre Desplat
Cinematography | Greig Fraser
Editing by | William Goldenberg Dylan Tichenor
Studio | Annapurna Pictures
Distributed by | Columbia Pictures
Release dates | December 19, 2012 (2012-12-19)
Running time | 157 minutes[2]
Country | United States
Language | English
Budget | $50 million

Zero Dark Thirty is an upcoming 2012 American action thriller directed and co-produced by Kathryn Bigelow with screenplay by Mark Boal, both associated with The Hurt Locker, another military action thriller that won the Academy Award for Best Picture and five other Oscars in 2009. Billed as "the story of history's greatest manhunt for the world's most dangerous man," the film chronicles American efforts to capture or kill Osama bin Laden. It stars Jessica Chastain, Chris Pratt, Kyle Chandler, ?dgar Ram?rez, Joel Edgerton, Ricky Sekhon and Mark Strong.[3]

## Plot[edit]

A chronicle of the decade-long hunt for al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden following the September 11 attacks of 2001, and his death at the hands of U.S. Navy SEALs in May 2011.

## Cast[edit]

- Jessica Chastain as Maya [4]
- Chris Pratt as a U.S Navy SEAL
- Kyle Chandler as the head C.I.A operative in Pakistan
- ?dgar Ram?rez as a U.S Navy SEAL
- Joel Edgerton as a U.S Navy SEAL
- Mark Strong as George [5]
- Scott Adkins as a U.S Navy SEAL
- Taylor Kinney as a U.S Navy SEAL
- Jason Clarke as Dan
- Mark Duplass
- Frank Grillo
- Stephen Dillane
- Harold Perrineau
- Ricky Sekhon
- Jennifer Ehle as CIA operative
- James Gandolfini as Leon Panetta[6]

## Production[edit]

### Titles[edit]

The working title for the film was For God and Country.[7] The title Zero Dark Thirty has been officially confirmed at the end of the movie's teaser trailer.[8] Bigelow has explained to EW that ?it?s a military term for 30 minutes after midnight, and it refers also to the darkness and secrecy that cloaked the entire decade long mission.?.[9][10] Her ex-husband James Cameron had been in negotiations to write and direct the film, but dropped out due to the production of the sequel to Avatar.

### Writing[edit]

Bigelow and Boal had initially worked on and finished a movie script centered around the 2001 siege in Tora Bora, where bin Laden was once believed to be hiding. The two were about to begin filming when news broke that bin Laden had been killed. They immediately shelved the film they had been working on and redirected their focus, essentially starting from scratch. "But a lot of the homework I?d done for the first script and a lot of the contacts I made, carried over,? Boal remarked during an interview with Entertainment Weekly. He added, "The years I had spent talking to military and intelligence operators involved in counterterrorism was helpful in both projects. Some of the sourcing I had developed long, long ago continued to be helpful for this version."[11]

### Filming[edit]

Parts of the film were shot at Chandigarh, India. Some parts of Chandigarh were designed to look like Lahore and Abbottabad, Pakistan, where Osama bin Laden was found and killed in May 2011.[12] Local protesters expressed anti-Osama bin Laden and anti-Pakistan sentiments as they objected to Pakistan locations being portrayed on Indian land.[13][14]

### Music[edit]

Alexandre Desplat has been hired to compose the score of the film.[15]

## Marketing[edit]

### Promotion[edit]

Electronic Arts will promote Zero Dark Thirty in its video game Medal of Honor: Warfighter by offering downloadable maps of locations depicted in the film. Additional maps for the game will be made available on December 19, to coincide with the initial limited-release of the film. Electronic Arts will donate $1 to nonprofit organizations that support veterans for each Zero Dark Thirty map pack sold.[16]

## Reception[edit]

### Political controversy[edit]

Even before a single scene was shot, the film became fodder for partisan political controversy.[11] Opponents of the Obama Administration charged that Zero Dark Thirty was scheduled for an October release just before the November presidential election, so that it would support the reelection of Barack Obama by reminding the public who gave the command to initiate the raid that killed bin Laden.[17][18] Sony has denied that politics was ever a factor in release scheduling, stating that the initial release date was selected because it was the best available spot for an action-thriller on a crowded lineup. The film's screenwriter has added, "the president is not depicted in the movie. He's just not in the movie."[19] Distributor Columbia Pictures, sensitive to critical perceptions, considered rescheduling the film release for as late as early 2013. A limited-release date was set for December 19, 2012, well after the election and rendering moot any alleged political conflict.[7][20][21][22][23] The nationwide release date was pushed back to January 11, 2013, moving it out of the crowded and competitive Christmas period and closer to the Oscars.[24]

Several sources have also charged the Obama Administration of improperly providing Bigelow and her team access to classified information during their research for the film. These charges, along with charges of other leaks to the media, have become a prevalent election season conservative talking point, and have also found their way onto the Republican national convention party platform, which claims Obama "has tolerated publicizing the details of the operation to kill the leader of Al Qaeda."[21] Republican congressman Peter T. King requested that the CIA and Department of Defense investigate if classified information was inappropriately released; both departments said they would look into it.[25] Conservative watchdog group Judicial Watch publicized CIA and Department of Defense documents obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, and alleged that "unusual access to agency information" was granted to the filmmakers. An examination of the documents showed no evidence that classified information was leaked to the filmmakers, and the CIA records did not show any involvement by the White House.[7][21] The filmmakers have denied the claims they were given access to classified details about the killing of Osama bin Laden.[26] A CIA spokesman confirmed the agency maintained their goal of "an accurate portrayal of the men and women of the CIA, their vital mission and the commitment to public service that defines them. And it is an absolute that the protection of national security equities is an integral part of our mission."[25] The CIA further reassured Rep. King that, "the protection of national security equities ? including the preservation of our ability to conduct effective counterterrorism operations ? is the decisive factor in determining how the CIA engages with filmmakers and the media as a whole."[27]

A 501(c)(4) group including former special operations and CIA officers led by Republicans and calling itself OPSEC was formed, and began a media campaign in August claiming "that the Obama White House released classified details of the raid for the making of a Hollywood film", a claim that has not been proven.[28] OPSEC has produced a video attacking Obama called Dishonorable Disclosures which a spokesman for the group said they intend to show in swing states.[28][29][30][31] In the video, OPSEC members make assertions that the administration leaked considerable classified intelligence about the raid for political gain and that Obama took credit for the work of others.[32] One former SEAL featured in the video demands that Obama "stop leaking information to the enemy." CNN's National Security Analyst Peter Bergen published a critical analysis of these assertions. Bergen, author of Man Hunt: The Ten Year Search for Bin Laden From 9/11 to Abottabad, asserted that the claims made in the video were overwrought and silly.[29][30][32] Bergen stated that Obama and his national security team made every effort to keep the intelligence about bin Laden a closely held secret.[32] PolitiFact examined the OPSEC video's claims and found them mostly false, noting "the video is very misleading" when it attempts to portray Obama claiming glory and revealing sensitive operational details to Hollywood elites. The images of Obama with Hollywood people on the video were actually from a screening event held a year before bin Laden's death.[33] The New York Times reported that parts of the video were selectively edited to show Obama giving his announcement about bin Laden's death without crediting special forces and intelligence personnel in order to portray him "as a braggart taking credit" for the accomplishments.[29] Other special operations soldiers, such as the United States Army Special Forces Major Fernando Lujan and Admiral Bill McRaven (head of the United States Special Operations Command), have been critical of military and CIA operatives' involvement in a political campaign, with Lujan saying the activity is shameful and "in violation of everything we?ve been taught, and the opposite of what we should be doing, which is being quiet professionals."[28][29]

## Critical response[edit]

So far, early reviews of the film have been positive. Richard Corliss' review in Time Magazine states "Zero Dark Thirty is a movie, and a damned fine one" calling it "a police procedural on the grand scale" and "blows Argo out of the water."[34].

The Hollywood Reporter said of the film, "it could well be the most impressive film Bigelow has made, as well as possibly her most personal." Variety was respectful but not quite as effusive: "The ultra-professional result may be easier to respect than enjoy, but there's no denying its power."

The Associated Press reported that early film reviews "revealed that the film features the waterboarding scene while at the same time playing audio of President Barack Obama saying that he does not believe the US should use torture." One reviewer said the waterboarding scene takes up almost the whole first fifteen minutes of the film.[35]

The film currently holds a 100% "Fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

## References[edit]

1. ^ UPI Takes Territories on Kathryn Bigelow's Zero Dark Thirty; Screen Daily; May 15, 2012
2. ^ "ZERO DARK THIRTY (15)". British Board of Film Classification. 2012-11-28. Retrieved 2012-11-28.
3. ^ Child, Ben (January 6, 2012). "Kathryn Bigelow's Bin Laden film to star Joel Edgerton". The Guardian (London).
4. ^ http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/24/movies/zero-dark-thirty-by-kathryn-bigelow-focuses-on-facts.html
5. ^ http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/24/movies/zero-dark-thirty-by-kathryn-bigelow-focuses-on-facts.html
6. ^ http://www.awardsdaily.com/blog/2012/10/10/gandolfini-will-play-leon-panetta-in-zero-dark-thirty-ew-gets-the-exclusive/
7. ^ a b c No conspiracy: New documents explain Pentagon, CIA cooperation on 'Zero Dark Thirty'; Entertainment Weekly; August 28, 2012
8. ^ Bin Laden movie trailer is out; filmmakers are talking; azcentral.com; August 6, 2012
9. ^ http://insidemovies.ew.com/2012/08/06/zero-dark-thirty-first-look
10. ^ http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=34815
11. ^ a b Obama not in 'Zero Dark Thirty' thriller about hunt for Osama bin Laden; Entertainment Weekly; August 6, 2012
12. ^ "Chandigarh turns Lahore". The Times of India. March 3, 2012.
13. ^ "VHP, Shiv Sena protest against Osama film". The Times of India. March 3, 2012.
14. ^ Williams, Matthias (7 March 2012). "Hindus protest bin Laden film shoot in north India". Reuters. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
15. ^ "Alexandre Desplat to Score Kathryn Bigelow's 'Zero Dark Thirty'". FilmMusicReported.com. Retrieved November 7, 2012.
16. ^ 'Zero Dark Thirty' to be promoted in 'Medal of Honor' video game; Los Angeles Times; September 10, 2012
17. ^ Greenwald, Glenn (May 23, 2012). "WH leaks for propaganda film". Salon. Archived from the original on May 24, 2012. Retrieved May 24, 2012.
18. ^ "Barack Obama campaigns in Hollywood style". The Times of India. May 2, 2012. Retrieved May 24, 2012.
19. ^ First look at the Osama bin Laden movie; CNN; August 7, 2012
20. ^ Hudson, John (May 17, 2012). "Is Harvey Weinstein Plotting an October Surprise for Obama?". The Atlantic Wire. Retrieved May 24, 2012.
21. ^ a b c Government communicated with "Zero Dark Thirty" makers; Chicago Tribune; August 29, 2012
22. ^ Bin Laden Movie Gets Pushed Back; IGN Entertainment; October 20, 2011
23. ^ Release Date of Bin Laden Film May Change; New York Times; October 19, 2011
24. ^ Shaw, Lucas (2012-11-01). "Kathryn Bigelow's 'Zero Dark Thirty' wide release delayed". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2012-11-02.
25. ^ a b Cieply, Michael (January 6, 2012). "Film About the Hunt for Bin Laden Leads to a Pentagon Investigation". The New York Times.
26. ^ Child, Ben (August 11, 2011). "Kathryn Bigelow denies White House favouritism over Bin Laden film". The Guardian (London).
27. ^ Letter from the CIA to King re: possible leaks; House website; November 8, 2011
28. ^ a b c Special Operators to Anti-Obama Groups: Zip It; AP News; August 22, 2012
29. ^ a b c d Shane, Scott (15 August 2012). "Ex-Officers Attack Obama Over Leaks on Bin Laden Raid". The New York Times. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
30. ^ a b Special operators to anti-Obama groups: Zip it; The News Journal; August 22, 2012
31. ^ Bond, Paul (August 17, 2012). "Group Using Obama's Hollywood Supporters in Campaign Against Him". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 19, 2012.
32. ^ a b c Bergen, Peter (August 19, 2012). "Are 'Swift Boat' attacks on Obama bogus?". CNN.com. Retrieved August 22, 2012. (WebCite archive)
33. ^ Group says Obama revealed secret information to Hollywood filmmakers; PolitiFact; August 15, 2012
34. ^ "Zero Dark Thirty: The Girl Who Got Bin Laden". Retrieved November 25, 2012.
35. ^ "Osama bin Laden film 'targets Obama administration over waterboarding'". A.P. at The Daily Telegraph. November 28, 2012. Retrieved November 30, 2012.

## External links[edit]

- Official website
- Zero Dark Thirty at the Internet Movie Database
- API at Rotten Tomatoes
- API at Metacritic
- Zero Dark Thirty on Facebook

Films directed by Kathryn Bigelow
The Loveless (1982) Near Dark (1987) Blue Steel (1989) Point Break (1991) Strange Days (1995) The Weight of Water (2000) K-19: The Widowmaker (2002) The Hurt Locker (2008) Zero Dark Thirty (2012)