Review: 13 Hours, The Best Modern Conflict Film Bince Black Hawk Down, By That Guy Who Did Transform
- Jan 5, 2017
- 2 min read
13 Hour: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi is the latest film from blockbuster maestro Michael Bay. Released in the early months of the year, often a dumping ground for lesser films, 13 Hours quickly secured its place as one of my favourite, if not #1, of 2016.
We follow Jack Silva, played by John Krasinski, a man known more for his comedy than his action, an ex-military soldier for hire who has been recruited for service in Benghazi, shortly after the fall of the Gaddafi regime. His job, to protect a CIA compound that’s trying to limit the sale of arms following the power vacuum the deposed dictator left behind. Silva is joined by his friend, the charismatic Tyrone Woods (James Badge Dale) and David Costabile as the head of the CIA operation along with a number of agents and other soldiers.
The first hour or so of the film shows the daily lives and growing boredom of the men at the compound, as well as showing off some small but welcome character development by the man who makes a living blowing things up. There’s a small car chase with a satisfying finish and a constant building of tension. Bay slowly builds the seeds of insurrection with small moments displaying the rising threat, contrasted by the image of hardened soldiers relaxing, waiting for something to happen. And when it happens, it happens hard.
The American embassy, home to Ambassador Chris Stevens (Matt Letscher) is attacked on September 11 and the ensuing chaos is exactly that. No one know’s who is who or what’s going on, only that US soil has been attacked by armed Libyan militia. Eventually the militia turns its attention to the CIA compound and a drawn out firefight ensues, one lasting 13 hours. Here Bay displays his action chops, masterfully directing the conflict in a clear and focused manner though never losing sight of the characters, their quips and chatter ever present. Of course we see the trademark Baysplosions, as is to be expected, but unlike much of his other work, here it feels earned. Every rpg and mortar blast can be felt, by both the viewer and by the men and woman upon whom the deadly rain of lead and high explosives falls.
It is all punctuated by the aggravating head of operations who is trying to do his job, even if it costs the lives of others. While he isn’t the villain of the film, at times he feels like it and Costabile’s performance sells the role of a man who isn’t used to getting his hands dirty, even though he might have to.
13 Hours is arguably Michael Bay’s best film and easily his best since 1996’s The Rock. It is explosive yet subdued and directed by a seemingly mature Bay who puts his all into telling the true story of the Benghazi conflict of 2012. From acting to action, I can find no faults with the film. If you haven’t seen it already, it’s worth checking out.
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