Zero Dark Thirty* (2013) 9.5, 10, 9, 28.5

          Sometimes films dictate the order in which I approach the questions I choose to put to myself. The controversy that has engulfed this film, that is to say my willing awareness thereof, forced me to consider this movie first and foremost in terms of its moral content. I'd like to make a couple of simple points prior to my assessment. This film has been accused of being pro-torture. As per numerous statements of the director and writer, this may not have been intended to support torture, but this film makes a clear argument for torture and not an unconvincing one. I will willingly admit that I was forced to confront the possibility that without torture, which I desperately want to call "enhanced interrogation techniques" because it simply feels better, without torture groups like Al-Qaeda cannot be defeated. This would not make torture right, but it would complicate the issue significantly. I would argue, even though I wasn't convinced by the argument, that this film does us all the fine service of confronting us with a version of events that makes us confront the dichotomy between freedom and security, that makes us question the easy answers we live behind while other people do work that we might not be comfortable with that nonetheless keeps us safe. That may be my favorite part about this one as far as wisdom goes. There is no simple answer. It is a film that sparks questions that countries like the US, that is, countries with a great deal of power and thus responsibility, must ask themselves, questions that are often left unanswered in the minds of people protected from these hard facts. For this reason and not because I totally agree with the movie's point of view, I gave it a 10 for wisdom.
          I would like to make a simple argument that this film is making an argument for the detention program. It's story argumentation 101. They introduce two major characters who have differing opinions about how to counter Al-Qaeda. One says that we can use money and incentives to lure terrorists into giving up their superiors, tactics that worked well in the Cold War. The other insists that because Al-Qaeda is made up primarily of true believers that getting the information needed to capture the leaders of Al-Qaeda will require interrogation and, though not stated explicitly, perhaps torture. The film later shows the former's theory violently squashed and the latter's theory violently vindicated. Maybe this is simply the story that they were given, but the story reads like a pro-torture fairy-tale, in which the Big Bad Wolf is thwarted by torturing his second cousin.
          Beyond this, I'd like to step to the question of wit. In general, this film is well written. There are a number of one-liners that made me laugh and the scenes of intense emotion make you either want to cry or shout. This should, of course be attributed to actors as well. But one more thing about the writing. Pacing a story that takes ten years to unfold cannot be easy. From the beginning, with the haunting, but utterly discreet reminder of 9/11, to the end with the end well-placed addendum, this film managed to keep me interested despite the large amounts of real-world time between the interesting events. This is truly good work.
          As far as acting goes, Jessica Chastain holds your attention even when she's in the background of a scene. I genuinely watched for her reaction to almost everything that happened around her. Hers is not the only good performance. Jason Clarke is the closest anyone comes to stealing Jessica's spotlight. His work in the torture scenes is impeccable and his line about the CIA taking his monkeys is the perfect mix of hilarious and gut-wrenching. James Gandolfini gives a good performance, the sort of beautiful over-the-top to set off Jessica's subtlety. One of the most amazing performances of the year is Reda Kateb, the subject of the torture. He blew me away and I knew I knew him, so I checked. He features prominently in one of the best French films I've ever seen, Un Prophète.
          Overall, I give this movie a solid 9.5, really just barely not a 10. I just lacks that edge.
          As far as wonder goes, the film has a strong core of action and music, but nothing that stands out. The director did not astound me in The Hurt Locker and I'm less than impressed by the overall skill here. I praised the script and I cannot know what exactly was script and what direction, what the actor's skill or director's suggestion, but no one does more than I thought they could do. The story works, but I don't get the sense that this working is because of that one thing falling into place. That is to say that I don't have any big complaints. Overall, I give it a 9. What's missing is that thing that would make it a real contender for Best Picture. That is what I don't see. I've only seen four of the nominees and I already feel confident that Zero Dark Thirty shouldn't win.
          Forgive the last paragraph. I might have made it sound all too dire, but the film astounding. When I came home after watching it, I could only tell my dad that it was "heavy." If you're in the mood to have your morals questioned and "your worldview rocked," to quote my alter-ego, the Ice King, then find time to see this film.
          P.S. I have already watched Les Misérables and Argo since this one and I expect to have reviews soon. Thanks for reading, faithful friends.

Silver Linings Playbook* (2012) 9.5, 9, 9.5, 28

          I got to see this film with one of my oldest friends without really knowing at all what it was about. I was fortunate. This one is a beautiful little tale about a struggling individual overcoming adversity, but not in the normal, humdrum, Hollywood manner. I carves a new path for himself and Bradley Cooper really knocks this one out of the park. Let's begin.

          For wit, I gave this one a 9.5. There are very few points of complaint here. The writing is ingenious in the way that the dialogue is funny and heartfelt, never pulling punches and the plotting is bravely offbeat never heading quite where you expected it to go and not being ashamed of a happy ending. I hope saying that the ending is happy doesn't give too much away, but there you go. There are some anti-climactic and improbable moments, but they still manage to feel organic to me. I leave room for others to disagree as even I felt my leg being pulled a couple times, but that was only .5 off in my view. Thus the 9.5.

          The acting should  also get some high praise. Both Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence blew me away with their portrayals of people who have endured significant trauma and come out the other end, some times more and some times less intact. Bradley Cooper is rather mesmerizing in his outbursts. He makes me watch him fall apart. Jennifer Lawrence delivers some of the best lines of the film like a pro.

          It's hard to compliment De Niro without insulting him by underselling him. The best thing I can say is that he doesn't take over the scene unless it's appropriate. When his time comes, he captures you and even out of focus he steals the scene, but when it's not time, he plays the background part as well as anyone. This same compliment applies to Chris Tucker. He can be a loudmouth and can takeover things when you don't want him to. In this film, he takes his one scene and steals it, but the rest of the time he plays his part without getting on your nerves.

          The wisdom was a little more disappointing. My views on mental health are probably far from orthodox or even very coherent, but I worry a little bit about the conclusions the film makes on the main character taking his medicine. I may be a little biased on this. The affirmation of the father's obviously ridiculous gambling habits seemed hard to take as well. This I feel more confident about. It is more than enough to keep this from being higher than a 9.

          The 9.5 that I gave this for wonder is utterly well deserved. The cinematography is bold. The decision to allow Robert De Niro to talk to Bradley Cooper while out of focus and various other odd places for the camera, done well for effect, really endeared this movie to me. Music as well was well picked and really worked well in the film.

          I would suggest this to anyone who can take some swearing and some very serious situations. Its hilarious and thoughtful as well as heart-warming. Watch this with someone you care about. The last point I'd like to make is that this is the first post I've made since the page went over 1000 views. Thanks to everyone who reads this. If you care about me or just enjoy it, feel free to argue with me and comments galore.