Zero Dark Thirty Directed by: Kathryn Bigelow Starring: Jessica Chastain, Joel Edgerton, Kyle Chandler Rating: Not Yet Rated Release Date: December 19, 2012
TRAILER SCORE: 7/10
Thoughts by TSR: Secrecy has been the name of the game for Kathryn Bigelow’s follow-up to The Hurt Locker. This teaser is no exception, and it makes the first impression just a tad underwhelming. Luckily, it does succeed at its main goal: setting a mood.
I really love the feel of the thing, even if I would have liked to see more of the outstanding cast in action. Jessica Chastain, Jennifer Ehle, and Édgar Ramirez only pop up for a few seconds combined. Kyle Chandler is also featured for a moment, but there’s really no indication what role he’s playing. From his expression, he might just be considering what to do when Saracen brings Julie home after curfew.
We are mostly left with maps, vague voiceover, and some nice imagery. The image of what looks to be Chastain as the American flag, for example, is really cool. The voiceover and maps aren’t bad either – “When was the last time you saw bin Laden?” is a nice line to go out on, and the blackout motif livens up the maps – but I’m greedy and would have liked more. Still, this film remains near the top of my most anticipated list. Zero Dark Thirty is a fantastically cool, unique title – not quite as evocative as “Kill Bin Laden,” but it could have easily had the life sucked out of it like so many other recent titles – and I can’t wait to find out what Bigelow has in store.