Even though "Zero Dark Thirty" is still only in a handful of theaters in New York City and Los Angeles, it seems everyone has an opinion on the movie at this point. The "pro-torture" controversy continues to swirl, though director Kathryn Bigelow has tried to make it clear the interrogation method was included because, well, it's something that was used along the way (United States Secretary Of Defense Leon Panetta has admitted "enhanced interrogation" was used to get intel on Osama Bin Laden). Anyway, the talk around the movie won't end anytime soon, and now Rupert Murdoch is weighing in.
The 81 year-old Fox honcho and Twitter enthusiast hit the social media site on Christmas Day, not to talk about the presents he got, but to make this bold claim:
Just saw Zero Dark Thirty.Gripping film but could inflame Arab world. Coming debate on torture should include all sides, but won't.
— Rupert Murdoch(@rupertmurdoch) December 25, 2012
Given that Fox News is hardly the bastion of well rounded discussion and discourse, it's hard to take Murdoch seriously, and tossing around phrases like "inflame Arab world" on Twitter is borderline irresponsible from someone in his position. We'd like to think we could expect more from a media mogul who knows all too well about context and taking an even handed approach to reporting, but then again, this is the guy who let phone hacking of celebrities for "news" happen unabated on his watch. When the CIA are issuing statements about the movie that are more rational than those of the head of Fox, well, that pretty much speaks for itself.
Your thoughts? Let us know below. "Zero Dark Thirty" goes wide on January 11th. [Russia Today]
