I am not a musician; I have a tin ear and can’t read a note. Regardless, I know when an instrument is out of tune. I’m not a plumber and can’t fix a dripping faucet, nonetheless I know when there is a water problem. I’m not a politician and don’t begin to understand all the behind the scenes activity in our government, however I know when I smell a rat.
Director Michael Bay and writers Chuck Hogan and Mitchell Zuckoff put together a remarkable “re-play” of the events that took place at the U.S. Embassy in Benghazi, Libya on the night of September 11, 2012. The writers took the story from survivors who were actually there, thus we can believe that the events portrayed in the movie are reasonably accurate.
I attended an afternoon matinee. The theatre was half-filled, and no one moved for minutes after the film ended. We had just witnessed a roller coaster ride of emotions on screen, as the American Consulate and the CIA Compound (two separate locations), begged and literally screamed for help as they were under heavy attack, and NO ONE responded. To top it off at the end when the survivors were finally flown out they had to use Libyan planes, none from the USA showed up.
13 Hours
Entertainment Rating: ★★★ (with precautions)
Rating: R, plenty of profanity and violence, what you would expect from a story like this one.
Possible Oscar Nominations: Probably none
Most of us are familiar with the story, but the facts vary some from those our media friends pontificated on. The bulk of the actual fighting took place at the CIA compound and a total of four Americans died that night, not three as has been widely reported. And I learned that Ambassador Chris Stevens died from smoke inhalation, which I didn’t know, although some of you may have. The battle scenes are up close and personal, the most graphic I have seen since American Sniper. The heroism of the American fighters against all odds will grab you, as this is real stuff, not Hollywood derring-do.
The movie scrupulously avoids political issues, but seeing the lack of response from nearby USA military options, says something (although I am not certain what). You may or may not “smell a rat” as you watch the events unfold. As one well-known cable news channel says, “we report, you decide.”
My three star rating is noted with precautions. This movie is fast moving, has lots of violence and action, and at times it’s hard to distinguish who and what is happening. Some of the dialogue is at times difficult to understand, but the visuals say everything.
