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Thirteen Days (DVD, 2000)
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This is a realistic, gripping, and historically accurate presentation of the events leading up to and President Kennedy's handling of the Cuban Missile Crisis. Excellent performances by Bruce Greenwood as the President, Kevin Costner as Kenny O'Donnell, and Steven Culp as the President's brother Bobby make for a riveting drama. Director Roger Donaldson clearly decided to remain faithful to the historical record and has succeeded in capturing the characters of the principals in the crisis. Dean Acheson and Dean Rusk, along with the protagonists, are crisply drawn vignettes who contribute to the clever mix of historical fact and creativity. Pitted against the wisdom of the President and his brother are the military urgings of the Chiefs of Staff, again with characters well drawn and easily identifiable. Dominating the production are the implications of failure. These are not over-dramatized but are ever-present. It is in this recreation of the atmosphere of October 1962 that the genius of the film lies. This is an important dramatization that every armchair historian should see.Read full review
Much has been written and surmised about the Cuban Missile Crisis. This movie takes us inside the oval office, shows us a very realistic, vulnerable JFK, and gives us some sense of just how close we were to nuclear proliferation during those two weeks in October, 1962. Kevin Costner plays Ken O'Donnell, one of JFK's top aides, who was also a college buddy of RFK's. O'Donnell is perhaps shown as more influential in the resolution of the crisis than he was in real life, but I don't think this takes anything away from the overall power of the film. I have read many books about the Kennedys, including RFK's book 13 days. The only thing the movie really doesn't address, is whether the Kennedys were in fact so "surprised" by the missile buildup in Cuba given their failed invastion at the Bay of Pigs in 1961, and their continued plotting with the CIA to rid Cuba of Castro. Aside from this, the movie is riveting. The desire of the Joint Chiefs for a military solution was very real and very intimidating to Kennedy. Curtis LeMay, perhaps the most extreme of the Chiefs, wanted to just go in and bomb the island. He told Kennedy the Soviets wouldn't do a thing if we did. At that point, as the movie shows, Kennedy knows that the Chiefs are living in a world that he doesn't want any part of, and he tries diplomacy with a veneer of toughness - and it ultimately works. This is a "man's world" in 1962 at the highest levels of government. We see glimpses of Jackie Kennedy, of O'Donnell's wife, but it's all men sitting around tables, chomping cigars, and trying to figure out if we're going to blow up the planet. A truly frightening vision. And more frightening than some of the good "World War Three" movies out there like SEven Days in May or On The Beach because this one is based on a REAL event. The tension never lets up. As a viewer, you know the ending. You know there isn't a nuclear war. But HOW it gets resolved keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout. Great acting, great directing, great script - and the actors playing the Kennedy Brothers at first don't feel like them, but about midway through the film I realized I thought I was looking at JFK and RFK. Kevin Costner's accent is bothersome at first (I'm a Bostonian - nobody can do a very good Boston 'accent" in Hollywood) but tones down once the film gets going. This movie is a pretty decent history lesson for those too young or not born in 1962. This was the event that made JFK a real leader. It's also part of the story (the Cuba story) that led to his downfall, and perhaps to the downfall of his brother - the mixing up of the CIA, organized crime, and disaffected Cubans - a coalition impossible to please and a coalition the Kennedy brothers alienated. But that's for a different movie....Read full review
PLOT: the 13 days in October 1962 during the discover of Atomic Weapons moved secretly into Cuba by Russia. EXCELLENT~ THE WHITE HOUSE October 1962~ U2 PLANES gives us some (high altitude photography taken)over CUBA~shows medium range atomic weapons being assembled in CUBA by the soviets. As the soviet ambassador continues to deny any offensive weapons~ the President has 10 days before the weapons are fully active. BRUCE GREENWOOD is JFK the President (HE looks like JFK but the ACCENT is midwest) oops~ LOL~~~ STEVEN CULP is Bobby Kennedy~ HE looks and sounds JUST like Bobby~ and KEVIN COSTNER is Special Assistant to JFK~~~ KENNETH J.ODONNELL~ this moves along very well and is a well laid out plot. Everyone has a solution the military wants to BOMB the nukes before they are fully operational but know the Russians MAY start World War 3 in reponse~ soon a two fold SOLUTION IS started..... a QUARRENTINE~(blockade) the US Navy halts and searches all ships bound for Cuba and any with weapons ARE turn BACK~ the AMBASSADOR from Russia continues to deny weapons but a fun TOES TO TOES battle at the United Nations with Adali Stevens helps the US gain world support~ lots of "back door dealings" including ODONNELL LEAN on pilots and congressmen and the military~ a BACK door offer from the TOP SOVIET SPY~ adds to the intrigue BUT THERE ARE DOUBTS OF THE OFFER IS LEGIT~ AS the last 24 hours BEFORE THE US starts an *AIR STRIKE* on CUBA~ BOBBY KENNEDY makes one last effort to set up a DEAL with the Soviets~(we know he succeeded) but for 13 days the WORLD was on the edge of World WAR 3~ excellent CAST~ some of the boston accents could have been better but all the stars looks like the REAL deal~ HIGH MARKS FOR THE DIRECTOR and costumes~ top notch~ some scenes were shot in BLACK & WHITE which gives you the 1960s FEEL since TV and newspaper were black and white~ I GIVE THIS 5 STAR~ ALL THE WAY~ DEFINATELY THE BEST cuban missle crisis MOVIE MADE~ TRIVIA: the dialogue was based on ACTUAL White House recordings made by JFK who frequently audio taped most meetings. actual F8 FIGHERS WERE USED~ and the REAL life JOSEPH P. KENNEDY JR. ship was BORROWED for this film and Christopher Lawford one of the PILOTS is a real life nephew to JFK~ I HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU WATCH THIS EXCELLENT MOVIE TWICE~ 2 HOURS 20 MINUTES~ a must see~Read full review
Among my favorite movies. This movie keeps me on the edge of my seat even though I've seen it numberous times. It portrays the rising stress levels and sheer exhaustion over the course of the cuban missle crisis as well as the battle between "men of goodwill" and those desiring war. The relationship between Kenny, Bobby, and JKF is also well incorporated, reminding me of loyal school boys who despite personal disputes, let nothing come between them. As far as I know, it also follows the actual events of those 13 days in a historically accurate way, even using some of the actual news clips from that time period of students having missle drills. I did not live during that period of time, but I would recommend this movie to anyone with an interest in learning about it, those who actually experienced it some way, and even to those that just like a good suspense filled movie with a realistic feel.Read full review
The story was well told and was easy to follow. Since the event occured four years before I was born, I appreciated the dramatization to supplement and bring to life what I had read about in history books. However, I found the director's frequent artistic use of launching missles and a firey mushroom cloud completely superflous and boring. I found myself thinking "Ok, we get it - nuclear annihilation - let's move on! What happened next?!" Oh well, I suppose the movie had to include something to appease those macho and shallow viewers who cannot bear to sit through a movie without an explosion every ten minutes.
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