Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Jason Clarke | ... | ||
Reda Kateb | ... | ||
Jessica Chastain | ... | ||
Kyle Chandler | ... | ||
Jennifer Ehle | ... | ||
Harold Perrineau | ... |
Jack
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Jeremy Strong | ... |
Thomas
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J.J. Kandel | ... |
J.J.
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Wahab Sheikh | ... |
Detainee on Monitor
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Alexander Karim | ... |
Detainee on Monitor
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Nabil Elouahabi | ... |
Detainee on Monitor
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Aymen Hamdouchi | ... |
Detainee on Monitor
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Simon Abkarian | ... |
Detainee on Monitor
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Ali Marhyar | ... |
Interrogator on Monitor
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Parker Sawyers | ... |
Interrogator on Monitor
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Maya is a CIA operative whose first experience is in the interrogation of prisoners following the Al Qaeda attacks against the U.S. on the 11th September 2001. She is a reluctant participant in extreme duress applied to the detainees, but believes that the truth may only be obtained through such tactics. For several years, she is single-minded in her pursuit of leads to uncover the whereabouts of Al Qaeda's leader, Osama Bin Laden. Finally, in 2011, it appears that her work will pay off, and a U.S. Navy SEAL team is sent to kill or capture Bin Laden. But only Maya is confident Bin Laden is where she says he is. Written by Jim Beaver <jumblejim@prodigy.net>
It's not an action flick, it's a thriller. About a tough CIA-chick who has a hunch about a guy who might eventually lead them to Osama Bin Laden. It takes her almost 10 years, a little waterboarding, a couple of dead colleagues and a lot of arguing with her superiors, but she manages to follow the lead all the way to the now famous raid in Abbottabad.
It's a very captivating film (even with its 160 minutes runtime), and the big raid at the end is quite intense and realistic. That said, Bigelow's previous 'The Hurt Locker' was (even) better. But it's close!
As for the controversy whether the film is 'pro-torture propaganda' or not: it shows what (likely) happened. A very unpleasant sight for Americans, sure, but that's no reason to leave it out. Whether or not 'OBL' would've been caught without the use of torture is speculation that has no place in this movie (it's a depiction of events, not a moral study).
Some Americans might still find it hard to watch a movie that requires you to form your own opinion about the actions of your country/government/army, instead of getting one spoon fed by those very same institutions. But given the America's options in government- potential it seems a luxury Americans no longer have.