True, lethal diplomatic crisis plays out over ‘13 Hours’
When the name Benghazi comes up, it typically sparks controversy, given the 2012 attack on the U.S. diplomatic compound in Libya ... the aftermath of which resulted in the deaths of four Americans, and became a major political issue.
The movie “13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi” tries to keep the politics out as it re-creates the effort by American forces to defend the compound. The 2016 film – being presented Sunday, April 14, Thursday, April 18, and Friday, April 19, on Paramount+ With Showtime – was guided by one of the top action directors around, Michael Bay, of “Transformers” and “Armageddon” fame, and he clearly wanted to focus on the action that occurred under the circumstances.
Still, it’s hard to overlook the politics completely here, since questions arose about Washington leaders’ readiness (or lack thereof ) for such a situation. Indeed, the soldiers portrayed in the film are shown going against orders to stand down, relying instead on their own skills and instincts. The cast includes some familiar faces, such as Toby Stephens (“Black Sails,” “Die Another Day”) and John Krasinski (“The Office,” “Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan”), but it purposely plays down overt star power to try to enhance the realism of the dramatization.
And it is a suspenseful story, in the tradition of so many that have pitted heroes against seemingly insurmountable odds … the type of tale director Bay has vast experience in telling. One problem, though, is the film’s length; it occupies nearly two-and-a-half hours, and though that certainly isn’t as bad as 13 hours, it does feel overextended when at least a half-hour less would make the film that much tidier and perhaps give it even more impact.
With that being said, Bay certainly pours on the visceral mayhem that’s his trademark, but with more relevance this time, since many viewers will know that the events really happened. The screenplay is based on a book written by the would-be protectors, who were private security and made sure matters didn’t get even worse, though they were rough enough.
Being about a real-life situation that’s still discussed on occasion adds an extra layer, but strictly as a movie, “13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi” is an effective entry in a time-tested genre ... overseen by someone who surely knows how to use that genre well.