ZERO DARK THIRTY | FAMILY MOVIE REVIEW INFORMATION FOR PARENTS AND KIDS

"ZERO DARK THIRTY"
(2012) (Jessica Chastain, Jason Clarke) (R)

QUICK TAKE:: Drama/Thriller: A young CIA agent, with the help of others over the years following 9/11, tries to track down and kill Osama bin Laden.

PLOT:

It's two years after the terrorist attacks of 9/11, and young CIA analyst Maya (JESSICA CHASTAIN) has arrived at a government "black site" where fellow CIA agent Dan (JASON CLARKE) and his small team are interrogating Ammar (REDA KATEB), a terrorist suspect believed to have ties to Osama bin Laden. Their tactics are varied, including torture, and that eventually gets them the name of a new lead, Abu Ahmed al-Kuwaiti.

As the years pass and other terrorist attacks occur around the world, Maya continues on her quest to track down bin Laden. Working alongside other agents including Jessica (JENNIFER EHLE) and Jack (HAROLD PERRINEAU), she must contend with her immediate boss, Joseph (KYLE CHANDLER), having his hands tied at times regarding how they can proceed.

That includes whether to act on clues indicating that bin Laden might be hiding out in a walled compound in Pakistan. With a Navy SEAL team led by Patrick (JOEL EDGERTON) standing by, Maya tries to convince her superiors that her intel is correct and the time is right to strike.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?: Older teens might show some interest, especially if they're into the subject matter and/or are fans of anyone in the cast or films by Kathryn Bigelow.

WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: R: For strong violence including brutal disturbing images, and for language.

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