"zero dark thirty" the riveting new film by director kathryn bigelow and screenwriter mark boal bringshe hunt for bin laden like it's never been seen before, combining meticulous detail of a first-rate investigative reporter. >> it was thrill to see what the people were like. >> reporter: with the dramatic touch of oscar-winning director bigelow. >> it was based on firsthand accounts, it felt very vivid and immediate. >> reporter: they bea gan the project six years ago with a very different ending until -- >> the united states conducted an operation that killed osama bin laden. >> i picked up the phone and started calling sources and seeing what they knew and taking reer iffals and knocking on doors. >> there there was huge controversy and an investigation was begun about you receiving classified material. >> i certain dli a lly did a lo homework. i never asked for classified material and to my knowledge i never received any. >> reporter: at the center of the drama was a young female cia officer played by jessica chastain, the woman they called maya, rerelentlessly tracked leads that w