By Darlene Donloe
Michael Bay’s 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of
Benghazi, opening in theaters nationwide today, is one of those films
that stays with you long after you’ve left the theater.
It’s emotional,
gut-wrenching, engaging, terrifying and gripping. The fact that it’s also a
true story makes it all the more intense.
And since
Michael Bay is involved – you know he’s going to bring the noise!!!
The story of
what actually happened in Benghazi stopped America in its tracks. How could
something like this happen? Why did it happen? What went wrong?
The story and
moment-by-moment intensity is so in-your-face – it’s palpable. Michael Bay’s
direction is so on point, it feels like you’re right there.
Everyone knows
the story. But no one knew what happened from an insider’s point of view.
13 Hours, based on Mitchell Zuckoff and members
of the Annex Security Team’s nonfiction book 13 Hours, chronicles the true story of six elite ex-military
operators assigned to protect the CIA, who fought back against overwhelming
odds when terrorists attacked a U.S. diplomatic compound on September 11,
2012.
Yes, September
11!!!!
John Krasinski is Jack Silva in 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi
The tagline
for the film reads: When everything went wrong, six men had the courage to
do what was right.
If the movie
is an accurate description and depiction, that tagline says it all.
Here is a
quick synopsis.
On
the eve of September 11, 2012, the eleventh anniversary
of the September 11, a group of Islamist militants stormed the American
diplomatic compound and a nearby CIA annex in Benghazi, Libya. The ambassador, J. Christopher Stevens, who
had just arrived in May 2012, died of smoke inhalation. Stevens was the first U.S. ambassador to die in office since the 1988 airplane
crash in Pakistan that killed Arnold Lewis Raphel. Stevens was the eighth U.S.
Ambassador to be killed in the line of duty.
A Special
Operations team made up of former U.S. Navy SEALs and CIA Operatives are sent
in to defend the remaining Americans who are still alive.
What happens
next is nothing short of miraculous and heroic.
As a number of
militants attack the American compound, a handful of Americans fight back –
holding them off until reinforcements arrive.
Some are
maimed. Some are killed. And even when it looks like all hope is lost, the
remaining soldiers continue to fight.
The carnage of war is front and center. Some of the turmoil is too
graphic to comment.
Bay (Transformers) has created a masterful
cinematic chaos. He puts you right in
the thick of the ambush.
To his credit,
he has also assembled one helluva cast for this drama, all turn in stirring and
convincing performances.
Standouts
include John Krasinski whose
character, Jack Silva, has put his family life on hold to go to work in
Benghazi. A patriot, he wears his loyalty,
brotherhood and camaraderie on his sleeve as does Tyrone ‘Rone Woods, played by
James Badge Dale. Both play former Navy
SEALS who are paid $150K a year by the CIA's Global Response Staff to protect
U.S. intelligence operatives and diplomats in an unsecured Benghazi compound.
The rest of
the cast is equally convincing and committed.
A saving grace
for Hillary Clinton – the movie is coming out now instead of closer to
November. By then, it may be forgotten. Well, maybe not. Donald Trump is sure
to bring up the debacle of Benghazi under Clinton’s watch as Secretary of
State. Still, her name is never mentioned in the film.
This is a
compelling movie. Not sure how accurate it is. I’m sure some creative license
was taken.
All that being
said, watching 13 Hours: The Secret
Soldiers of Benghazi makes you proud to be an American!!!!
13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi, directed by Michael Bay, stars James
Badge Dale, John Krasinski, Max Martini, Pablo Schreiber, Toby Stephens, Dominic
Fumusa, Matt Letscher , David Denman, David Costabile, David Giuntoli,
Demetrius Gross and Alexia Barlier.
Running time: 2
hrs, 17 min. Rated R: for strong combat violence throughout,
bloody images, and language.
On the DONLOE
SCALE: D (don’t bother), O (oh, no), N (needs work), L (likeable), O (oh, yeah)
and E (excellent), 13 Hours: The Secret
Soldiers of Benghazi gets an E (excellent).
