Zero Dark Thirty (**** out of ****)

All The President's Men, United 93, and Zodiac were films that managed to effortlessly fuse drama, journalism, atmosphere, and suspense. Zero Dark Thirty now joins those great films in the hall of near flawlessly crafted investigative thrillers. Director Kathryn Bigelow and screenwriter Mark Boal walk the tightrope and complete the ambiguous journey. Conservative or liberal,  Zero Dark Thirty is a high octane powerhouse. There were eyebrows raised over how the truth of the torture scenes and just who was armed in Bin Laden's compound, but the film manages never reveal too much. Both elements manage to hide the controversy. Despite the fact we're watching the movie, there always feels like more is happening off it. That is how fantastic filmmakers craft the world their film inhabits. It is truly and marvelous achievement.

Maya (Jessica Chastain) has traded her youth in service for her country. She has spent her life working for the CIA with hunting Bin Laden.  She probably knows more about him than the few she's managed to stay close too. Maya is working with a small group searching for America's enemy and they are failing. They follow supposed messengers, make bribes, conduct surveillance, and interrogate prisoners often through violent force. Dan (Jason Clarke) administers these practices in both the role of the good cop/ bad cop. He makes perfectly clear that if they break any of his rules (mostly do not lie) he will hurt them, break them if he has too. However he brings them food and water, often talks casually in what seems both an attempt to win them over as well as Dan being himself. Through many different sources Maya thinks she may have just found the lead that will find the villain she has spent her life looking for.

Zero Dark Thirty is confident with itself. Tension builds naturally, nothing seems forced. During the raid on Bin Laden's compound you can hear a pin drop. It's suspenseful not through manipulation of score, cliche soldier types, or the will they or won't they. Bigelow takes her time to get here and has no intention to rush the payoff. It is some of the most intense cinema I've seen in some time. Many locations and different characters keep the movie flowing and never feels at a standstill. Kyle Chandler, Jennifer Elhe, Harold Perrineau, Edgar Ramirez, Mark Strong, Joel Edegerton, Chris Pratt, Mark Duplass, and James Gandolfini lend their talent in making the film all the stronger (sorry to name drop but there really is so many great actors here). Jessica Chastain doesn't simply act, but rather lives the role. No action, gesture, or emotion seems to big or to small. She is perfect from beginning to end. The ending has Maya sitting alone, no celebration from her success, just tears that are both or relief and emptiness. It is one of the fine film of this year and of any year.

**** out of ****