By Rand Paul
Obama acts as though we no longer have a Constitution
The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence has completed a review of contacts between the CIA and the filmmakers of "Zero Dark Thirty" — the movie about the killing of Osama bin Laden — but is continuing to probe what role harsh interrogation techniques played in the hunt for the al Qaeda leader.
Pakistan stars in "Zero Dark Thirty," from early scenes at a detention site to the dramatic closing minutes as Navy SEALs assault the hideout of Osama bin Laden. But the Academy Award-nominated film about the hunt for the al-Qaida leader has sparked a controversy here about its portrayal of the country, and it will likely not be shown on the local big screen anytime soon.
Pakistan stars in "Zero Dark Thirty," from early scenes at a detention site to the dramatic closing minutes as Navy SEALs assault the hideout of Osama bin Laden. But the Academy Award-nominated film about the hunt for the al-Qaida leader has sparked a controversy here about its portrayal of the country, and it will likely not be shown on the local big screen anytime soon.
The scene: Tehran's Mehrabad airport, January 1980. Six U.S. diplomats, disguised as a fake sci-fi film crew, are about to fly to freedom with their CIA escorts. But suddenly there's a moment of panic in what had been a smooth trip through the airport.
The CIA thrillers "Argo" and "Zero Dark Thirty" have won top screenplay honors from the Writers Guild of America.
"Zero Dark Thirty" screenwriter Mark Boal says his use of interrogation techniques in the film were accurate and that pending Senate investigation brings him "a chill."
Could congressional scrutiny over such an emotionally charged issue as alleged torture be affecting the awards momentum of “Zero Dark Thirty”?
A few weeks ago, "Zero Dark Thirty" seemed well on its way to capturing the Academy Award for best picture. It was winning early critic awards and gaining the kind of momentum a movie needs to win Hollywood's biggest prize.
There are many reasons to celebrate "Zero Dark Thirty." But the best reason is that it is simply a great movie — flawless as a thriller, a political drama, a manhunt procedural and an action flick.
"There's been a lot written about this movie; some of it has popped off the entertainment page to the news page. And from time to time, some of you might have wondered if we would have liked to comment on some of that coverage, and the answer is yes," said Mark Boal, writer of "Zero Dark Thirty," during his acceptance speech for best picture at the New York Film Critics Circle Awards on Monday.
The Hollywood Reporter's list of its 10 best stories of the week:
"I want to do everything!"
A Pentagon watchdog has referred for possible prosecution a senior military intelligence official who gave the name of a U.S. special operations forces commander to Hollywood filmmakers researching a movie about the hunt for Osama bin Laden, a senior House Republican said Tuesday.
The top 10 films of 2012, according to AP Movie Critic Christy Lemire:
Nominees for the 70th annual Golden Globe Awards, announced Thursday in Beverly Hills, Calif.:
Mark Boal, the movie's screenwriter, said in a recent interview that screenwriters have a double responsibility: to the material and to the audience.
"There's a responsibility, I believe, to the audience, because they're paying money, and to tell a good story," he said. "And there's a responsibility to be respectful of the material."
