13 HOURS: THE SECRET SOLDIERS OF BENGHAZI – The Review

Time once again for the movies to deploy into a true “hot spot” for another “ripped from the headlines”, “inspired by true events” Middle East military thriller (perhaps it was the Best Picture Oscar winner of 2008, THE HURT LOCKER, that spurred this trend). It seems that for the past several years, around this same time, multiplexes have presented these current conflict action epics. Last January AMERICAN SNIPER, opening wide after a limited pre-holiday release, was a huge box office hit, more so than the previous year’s LONE SURVIVOR. This new film harkens back to 2012’s ZERO DARK THIRTY in that it dramatizes an event that made headlines (eventually becoming a political “hot button”). And like ZERO we know how this ended, but do we really know how it began? And more importantly, do we know about the real life heroes involved? So, is Kathryn Bigelow or Clint Eastwood helming this true tale? Surprisingly the story is directed by a most unlikely film maker, Michael Bay. That’s the “in your face” movie “bad boy” who gave us three Transformer flicks and, yes, the two BAD BOYS “shoot-em-ups”. Can the blockbuster “popcorn king” do justice to the noble warriors who endured 13 HOURS: THE SECRET SOLDIERS OF BENGHAZI.

The film begins its march with a brief primer of news events from the last decade or so (using a mix of real footage and recreations). We’re reminded of the revolution in Libya that toppled Gadhafi in 2011 and how the different local militias scooped up their former’s ruler’s massive arsenal of weapons. Libya was so full of unrest that nations from around the globe closed and abandoned their embassies. Everyone…except the United States. The embassy in Benghazi (another was in Tripoli) took over a plush, heavily fortified mansion. But there was also a covert CIA base operating out of a walled compound, protected by ex-soldiers designated as the GRS (Global Response Staff). The story jumps to late Summer of 2012 as  new hire Jack Silva (John Krasinski) is picked up at the Benghazi airport by old pal ‘Rone’ Woods (James Badge Dale). Immediately they are facing down radicals blocking the streets. After finally arriving at the CIA complex, Jack meets the other members of the GRS team: ‘Tanto’ Paronto (Pablo Schrieber), ‘Boon’ Benton (David Denman), ‘Tig’ Tiegan (Dominic Furmusa), and ‘Oz’ Giest (Max Martini) along with the tightly-wound, officious CIA supervisor Bob (David Costabile). For the next few weeks the GRS accompanies the covert operatives as they try to collect intel on arms merchants, often barely escaping attacks by the city’s “hostiles”. The men also get a tour of the US embassy and are dismayed by the lack of security (just a few armed men backed by paid locals at the gate). Word comes down that a special guest will be there shortly, US Ambassador Chris Stevens (Matt Letscher), As September 11 nears, tensions mount, and Stevens makes headlines while meeting with Libyan politicos. During that the last hours of that fateful day, heavily armed groups suddenly surround the embassy and swarm through the gates. Jack and Rone observe the firefight from the CIA complex and gear up, but Bob insists that they must not engage the militia. But these men will never just watch as Americans are in danger. Throughout the night these warriors face unending streams of attackers as they try to protect the staff and see the dawn of a new day.

The usually bombastic Mr. Bay gives way to a more focused, but still very confident film maker and story-teller. The fast paced editing style is still there with several “on the fly” style video/camcorder inserts balanced with lots of green-tinted “night vision” shots all employed to put us right into the action and deadly danger. From the opening airport sequence Bay fills the scene with sweaty tension as Jack almost walks about the alien streets  as if adorned with a massive target tattooed on his forehead. We can almost feel the sweltering, oppressive heat as he grapples not only with the language, but with the different factions of the population. Are they truly “friendlies” or are they just putting on an “act”, smiling as the bring out the knife or, more likely, the rocket launcher? The sense of impending doom surrounding that fateful night oozes out of the screen. Once the fighting begins, the attackers strike like a tidal wave with the GRS barely regrouping after one assault before another begins. Oddly, part of the CIA complex is referred to as “zombieland”, echoing the endless, never retreating horror film staples. And other bits of cinema history are invoked with Rone remembering the Alamo while RIO BRAVO or ZULU may be recalled by film fanatics. But with all the mayhem and chaos, Bay guides us to all that’s important to tell the tale, actually showing us a new level of maturity in his work.

Screenwriter Chuck Hogan (co-creator of “the Strain”) in adapting Mitchell Zuckoff’s book “13 Hours” avoids many “boys in the barracks” clichés while still conveying the sense of brotherhood between the men. It helps that a talented cast makes these “reg’lar fellas” every bit the equal to any Marvel superhero. The real stunner may be the assured dramatic work from Krasinski, best known for light comedy (a long stint as the heart throb of TV’s “The Office”). He shows us that Jack will not give into desperate panic when staring down a gun barrel or drown in despair as he can only see his wife and daughters through the laptop screen. Dale as his best bud Rone burns with an inner fire, a fire that rages as he yearns to help his fellow Americans. You know that the excellent Costabile as the ultimate “by the book” boss (a lethally dangerous take of Michael Scott, John K’s TV boss) will not stop him, try as he might. All the GRS actors help us feel the fatigue and exhaustion as they plow through the fear and plot out new defense strategies very quickly, all while bullets and bombs zip past. These actors along with the entire crew headed by Bay honor these men with this work so that their bravery will not remain a secret forever. Despite the politics swirling about the subject, 13 HOURS is a brutal, grueling, and ultimately inspiring true story of courage and determination.

4 Out of 5