Zero Dark Thirty

Zero Dark Thirty
(2012) [Trailer]
Director: Kathryn Bigelow [IMDB]

This title topped a lot of folks best of lists this year and I was hoping to squeeze it in before I posted mine, but that was not the case. Eitherway, I wanted badly to check this title out and got the chance to tonight... so here it is.

Synopsis: A dramatization of the hunt to track down and kill Osama Bin Laden.

So... I'm afraid even if Zero Dark Thirty made the deadline for my best of 2012 list, it would have ranked pretty low. I did enjoy this film and it's a sold procedural, but I wasn't mesmerized by it like everyone seems to be. It's a little slow to roll out and the last act is probably the best part of the film. Jessica Chastain was good and it was pretty cool to see Coach Taylor in there too. I think her character was a little too one note for me and there didn't seem to be a lot of depth to her. She was like a person on a mission, executing that mission and that's all that's there. I was into Zero Dark Thirty and entertained by it, but it just didn't feel really memorable or impactful.

Near Dark

Near Dark
(1987) [Trailer]
Director: Kathryn Bigelow (IMDB)

My friend and I discussed vampire films recently and he claimed this was one of the greatest ones ever made. I had never even heard of it, but I respect his opinion (that's what being a friend is all about) and decided to check it out. It's considered a cult classic, but then again, everything is nowadays.

Synopsis: After a hick gets bit by a cute little vampire he hits the road with a group of blood suckers and learns how to live as a creature of the night.

This movie was directed by Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker and Point Break) and stars Bill Paxton and Bishop from Aliens. It's a pretty virtuous film and I found myself entertained, but it's definitely no where near best vampire film material. It rides the line of a vampire flick but it's also a crime spree movie, similar to Natural Born Killers or True Romance. Near Dark has a very gritty tone which I liked, all the characters seemed unkempt and filthy. Highlights for me would be the bar kill scene and shoot out scene. Lowlights for me would be... a blood transfusion gets rid of being a vampire?