13 Days is a historical drama film that depicts the events of the Cuban Missile Crisis, a 13-day political and military standoff between the United States and the Soviet Union in 1962. The film focuses on the efforts of President John F. Kennedy and his administration to resolve the crisis and prevent a nuclear war.
One of the standout aspects of 13 Days is the strong cast, which includes Kevin Costner as Kenny O'Donnell, the President's special assistant and advisor, and Bruce Greenwood as President Kennedy. Both actors deliver compelling and nuanced performances that help to bring the tension and drama of the crisis to life.
In addition to the main characters, the film also features a number of other notable figures from the crisis, including Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, Attorney General Robert Kennedy, and Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev. These historical figures are portrayed with a level of authenticity that helps to give the film a sense of realism and authenticity.
The plot of the film is largely centered around the negotiations and decision-making process that took place during the crisis, and the film does a good job of capturing the tension and uncertainty of the time. The film's script is well-written and the dialogue is sharp and convincing, making the film a compelling watch from start to finish.
One of the key strengths of 13 Days is its attention to historical detail. The film does an excellent job of recreating the look and feel of the early 1960s, and the sets and costumes are all meticulously designed to be true to the period. The film also does a good job of presenting the complex political and military issues at play during the crisis in a way that is easy to understand and engage with.
Overall, 13 Days is a compelling and well-made film that does an excellent job of depicting the events of the Cuban Missile Crisis. The strong performances, attention to historical detail, and engaging script all combine to make this a film that is well worth watching for anyone interested in history or political drama.
Thirteen Days Reviews
Kennedy a solid Bruce Greenwood. Dylan Baker is a doppelganger and his performance as McNamara is spot on. The use of Costner as a side character pushed out to be the lead is brilliant. So, on October 22, 1962, John F. Timely game also, considering the rejuvenated cold war that is being pushed by the current administration and the democratic nominee. . The thematic underpinnings of 13 Days elevate it in my estimation.
Two-player-only games are a hard space to enter, mostly because there are so many good choices already. The player with the most prestige wins. Portraying aide Kenny O'Donnell as every bit the everyman burdened by an unbearable secret, it's a subtle, enigmatic turn, but this is an ensemble piece and there's not one weak link. This essay will outline some of the concepts such as deterrence, mutual assured destruction doctrine, and the concept of balance of terror to justify why the nuclear age has shaped events after World War II. Certainly past experience is not a guide, because no war will have started or ended like this one. Yes, you win the game⦠but at what price? If you want to know more about the cold war and the Cuba missile crisis in particular this is a perfect medium for you to start with.
And for me, this movie offers us the opportunity to drop some of our cynicism and see one of the moments when Jack and Bobby Kennedy became golden. To give you a little bit of relief Ha! The missiles were powerful enough to kill 80 million Americans with only 5 minutes of warning time. Which is why "Thirteen Days" is such a treat. The film presents men shirt sleeves and in unknotted ties taking coffee cups and whiskey glasses as they try to sound rational while at the same time they are scared. Prestige is gained by dominating the United Nations World opinion or by being the dominating player for a hidden agenda. It shows a perspective attained from turning back at various vital issues that occurred approximately 38 years in the past. One of their own "He was a tough cookie, discreet, and regarded as family by the Kennedys.
The Cuban missile crisis of 1962 is frequently described as the moment the cold war turned hot. The game is built around minimizing the usefulness of the cards you offer your opponent. There's frequent swearing used to heighten the emotional impact i. Players play four cards and tuck the fifth under the board for the aftermath. His main confident was his younger brother, Robert Kennedy Steven Culp who proved invaluable as Attorney General. All that the problem was looking for ways to get out of the Cuban Missile crisis despite him having issues with his chiefs and advisors.
But it was a clever device to get the audience into the inner workings of the Kennedy White House without making JFK or RFK the lead character. In the aftermath of this event Kennedy tried to meet with Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev to lower tensions between the two but it did not help. Coaster's accent was actually annoying as an earlier reviewer noted , but it's forgivable in light of the moving, somewhat understated performance he turns in. The film has an educative and a teaching theme that is consistent in drama. Like Costner's Bostonian drawl, Bruce Greenwood's physical unlookielikeness to JFK takes some getting used to, but his portrayal of an all-too-human diplomat is totally convincing. I wasn't always happy with Kevin Costner performance but overall he did an acceptable job. The delinquent diversified when effective storytelling was an urge of the directors in the dramatic film distilling the strong and prevailing happenings and the Missile crisis issue in a format that was accessible.
His JFK is a listener, very dependent on his brother's advice, and one who takes the burdens of the country on his shoulders like a cross. It was entirely unnecessary to introduce a spurious claim of authenticity in digital type at the beginning of this movie to sell you it's theme and content. It starts with a bang. International Studies Quarterly, 52 3 , 555-577. If he backed down and agreed to take down U. Admit it, the movie was about as good as movie's get.
Retrieved July 12, 2020. He denies, however, that his family exercised any undue influence on the script. Several things become clear about the goings-on at the White House in 1962: None of the military leaders thought the Kennedy administration belonged in the White House; if it had been up to the military leaders, the situation would have caused World War III; JFK turned himself into a pretzel in order to pursue a diplomatic solution to the potential conflict. Certainly, the past experiences cannot act as guidelines as no such wars will have begun and ended like the Cuba Missile war. The movie centers on the Special Assistant to the President, Kenny O'Donnell Kevin Costner.
Push too hard, and this Cold War turns HOT. Nikita Khrushchev installed Soviet missiles in Cuba, 90 miles from Florida and within striking distance of 80 million Americans. Overall then an engaging and enjoyable real-life thriller. The film describes in detail the confusing Soviet response to JFK's quarantine demands and the meeting between Bobby and Soviet Ambassador Andrei Dobrynin Elya Baskin is the dramatic high point of the film. The scenes that work best are when O'Donnell is the fly-on-the-wall sitting in at Cabinet meetings and meetings with the Joint Chiefs and letting the real decision-makers and advisers talk. But this film really works because it is relentless and because, well because it effectively captures an event which changed the world. As well they are capable of reaching the majority of the United States Air Force bomber bases effectively crippling their ability to retaliate.
Neither the air support nor uprising took place, as the Cuban government crushed the exiles. This essay will focus on the primary causes of the Soviet Union placing missiles on Cuba: closing the missile gap, trying to force the issue of Berlin or to protect Cuba. With the exception of Costner, the acting in this movie is first rate and Bruce Greenwood as JFK was certainly deserving of Oscar consideration. In 1962, the world stood on the brink of World War III for "Thirteen Days," a 2000 film starring Kevin Costner, Bruce Greenwood, Steven Culp and Dylan Baker, with direction by Roger Donaldson. Photos from the U-2 spy plane show possible nuclear missiles on Cuban soil. What separates it from similar games such as Fort Sumter or Iron Curtain is the DEFCON track. Thirteen Days a rating of 3 stars out of 4, and said "The movie's taut, flat style is appropriate for a story that is more about facts and speculation than about action.
The components in the game are serviceable. How do you think he will deal with situations like this? What makes the Cuban Missile Crisis fundamentally different was precisely because it occurred during nuclear age. Hearing this, my Great Grandma and most Americans thought that America was going to go to war. Both Greenwood and Culp have the Kennedy's manner of speech and body language down pat but give very little hint of the Kennedy charm, wit, strength, charisma, or overriding self-confidence. They have the bomb -- and they don't want to drop it. Retrieved October 12, 2016. Of course, the filmic portrayal of JFK may be just a tad overly sympathetic, and the treatment of the military a tad overly harsh, and the importance of Kenny O'Donnell, played by Kevin Costner, is probably exaggerated, but these are minor quibbles.