13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of
Benghazi
Dir: Michael Bay
Starring: John Krasinski, James Badge Dale, Pablo Schreiber, David
Denman, Dominic Fumusa, Max Martini, David Costabile, Alexia Barlier, and Toby
Stephens
On September 11th, 2012 a group of heavily armed
militants from Libya attacked a United State’s diplomatic compound in Benghazi.
The group quickly overwhelmed the compound and set fire to the buildings and
later launched mortar rounds at a secret C.I.A. compound that was within a few
miles of the first attack. U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and three
Americans were killed in the attacks. This tragic event is the inspiration for
director Michael Bay’s new film “13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi”,
based from the novel by Mitchell Zuckoff, which includes accounts from the
security contractors that were working with the C.I.A. during the attacks, “13
Hours: The Inside Account of What Really Happened in Benghazi”. Michael Bay, a
director known for his boisterous, excessive, and overindulgent style, tackles
this heroic, chaotic story with less identifying flair than he typically
expels, though that’s not saying very much considering the directors excessive
tendencies. This demonstration displays many of Mr. Bay’s strengths but also his
glaring weaknesses, this both helps and hinders “13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi”.

Michael Bay understands how to construct an action film; big
explosions over big special effects combined with dynamic photography and
breakneck editing; it can be difficult to completely register what is going on
at times but it’s also strangely hypnotic, mind-numbingly so. Regardless of how
one may feel about these extremes, the director is one of the best at utilizing
them. Mr. Bay has scaled back these elements within “13 Hours” but his
distinctive signatures still permeate in many moments, unfortunately in one
dramatic instant it’s used in the absolute worst way. Once the build-up ends and
the action takes over completely, Mr. Bay keeps the tension high and the action
quick and frenzied by utilizing a mix of first-person perspective photography,
wide angle establishing shots, constant flashes of gun fire, and violence that
is rapid and in a few moments graphically rendered.
With Mr. Bay operating with a little more restraint, it offers
an opportunity for more character developments to shine through. The
introduction allows ample time to get to know these brave men operating in a
system that doesn’t quite except or appreciate them, for instance the director
of the C.I.A. compound consistently talks down and berates these men’s lifestyle
and purpose. Unfortunately most of the structure avoids the deeper angles, like
the enemies these men fight both in the smoky fields and abandoned buildings
that surround the compound and those operating on the American side miles away,
safe and sound, watching the conflict in front of a computer. The film opts for
the simplified version of dedicated men doing a dangerous job, the only
offering of insight comes when these soldiers are given little moments to
communicate with family via video or during down time between gun fights to
talk about life away from the battle, but these moments come as secondary
filler flashes instead of being purposefully designed. This underutilization of
character building lessens the emotional aspects that could have allowed a
greater connection to these characters.
John Krasinski is exceptional here, crafting a character
that is professionally focused but also wholly aware and affected by the risk
he is taking. James Badge Dale, playing the team leader, and Pablo Schreiber,
playing the smart aleck of sorts, are also very good in their roles throughout.
“13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi” doesn’t tell the
most cohesive story and the characters lack the nuance that would provide them
greater emotional connection. However,
underneath the excesses of Michael Bay’s filmmaking style, restrained yet still
obviously noticeable here, is a film about heroes and the dedication,
responsibility, and self-sacrifice that define their commitment to America. Mr.
Bay never sways from this fundamental purpose, even if his indulgent filmmaking
signature still shares, sometimes overshadows, the spotlight.
Monte’s Rating
3.00 out of 5.00
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