In the vein of Black Hawk Down (2001), 13 Hours is a war thriller based upon fact dealing with events in Libya leading up to and on 11 September 2012 – the eleventh anniversary of 9/11. Directed by Michael Bay, it focuses upon a crack security team of six who fight to defend the American diplomatic compound in Benghazi from wave after wave of terrorist attack.
After the US Ambassador to Libya, J. Christopher Stevens (Matt Letscher), arrives in the city to try to maintain diplomatic connections amidst the political and social chaos, things turn particularly ugly. Islamic militants invade the special mission compound, where the Ambassador is holed up, and later “The Annex”. The security detail weighs in. Heavily outnumbered and outgunned, with no immediate backup, they come under heavy fire throughout the night and into the morning.
Based upon the book 13 Hours by New York Times bestselling author Mitchell Zuckoff and members of the Annex security team, with a screenplay by Chuck Hogan, the movie has a real and frenzied feel about it from start to finish. It was filmed in Malta and Morocco and the cinematography by Dion Beebe (Rendition) is a feature.
As with many of these types of films, you are never quite sure who is doing the attacking, that is what group or groups they represent and just what they are trying to achieve. I sat alongside a former Australian Army soldier who fought in Afghanistan and he assured me that that was the way it was.
It takes quite some time for the assault to start. In other words, it is a long set up during which time the filmmakers try to establish several of the key characters, but, to be candid, I never felt I got to know any of them well except Jack Da Silva. The tension is palpable throughout and you do get the feeling that the situation is not only fluid but out of US control. The number of American military personnel on the ground in Benghazi is woefully inadequate. The phrase “war is hell” kept popping into my head.
The film is far too long at just under 2½ hours; and while a significant amount happens, it is difficult to readily understand the politics and the complexities. In fact, it is downright confusing. As such 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi will have only limited appeal and specifically to a heavily skewed male audience. Rated MA, it scores a 6½ to 7 out of 10.
Director: Michael Bay
Cast: John Krasinski, James Badge Dale, David Constabile
Release Date: 25 February 2016
Rating: MA 15+ – Strong bloody violence
Alex First
David Edwards is the editor of The Blurb and a contributor on film and television