Rating: 
Summary: We came THAT close!
Review: A action-packed documentary about the Cuban missile crisis. Bruce Greenwood plays JFK, Steven Kulp plays RFK & Kevin Costner plays Kenneth O'Donnell in their struggle against the hotheads in the Pentagon to attack Cuba. Brilliant acting all around. The most highly under-rated movie of the year. You'll never believe how close we came!
Rating: 
Summary: Decent Flick...but not great and plays loose with the facts
Review: Thirteen Days, while a pretty good thriller could have been a much better movie. Unfortunately the movie ignores any communication between the US and USSR governments, including that part of the story would have been much better. However, the movie's pretty good up until a few of the ships turn back, according to the movie it's simply due to the blockade of Cuba by the US not negotiation or diplomatic pressure.
However, much of this movie smacks of an earlier Kevin Coster film J.F.K. The Joint Chiefs of Staff is made out like they intended to "get" Kennedy at the cost of starting a war with the Soviets because they didn't like JFK and were embarassed over the failure of the Bay of Pigs invasion. To any viewer who's seen JFK, this is just smacks too much of presenting another theory that certain elements of the US government were out to get Kennedy by 1963, the producers would have been better to stick to the actual facts, the actual facts were amazing enough.
Rating: 
Summary: A first rate thriller, even if loose with the facts
Review: I know very little of the Cuban Missile Crisis, other than what is written in general history texts. Therefore, I cannot comment on the historical validity of this film. However, as a political thriller, the film is very, very good. It follows the events in the White House in the 13 Days of the Crisis, focussing on the Joint Chiefs, the various presidential Secretaries, and President JFK and his brother Bobby (then Attorney General). We only see their Soviet nemeses through the words of a teletype and a few ambassadors.If this is not the way the Crisis played out, it COULD be, so if the facts are not quite accurate, the spirit is authentic. We are drawn in and identify with the characters, and feel the tension. Again, someone who actually lived through the Crisis is likely to feel the tension more acutely than I; that I felt tense watching the film is a testament to the skill of the filmakers and actors. Greenwood and Culp, as the two Kennedies, are not exact lookalikes, but you immediately accept them in the parts due to their performances. Likewise the less-seen players, especially Fairman as Adlai Stephenson. Costner puts in a good performance as our guide and observer to the events, as special assistant Kenny O'Donnell (a real person, but many have questioned the importance his character seems to have). Unfortunately, I have to question the dialect coach - Costner, especially, has some kind of accent, but it doesn't sound like any Boston accent I've ever heard! Likewise, the military brass in the persons of the Joint Chiefs are almost carricatures of well-known war Hawks such as Patton and MacArthur. "Dr. Strangelove"'s Gen. Jack D. Ripper was no more Hawkish than these men! However, someone has to be the "bad guys" and they are convenient targets (it is well documented that many of the top military brass wanted to strike first). This brings us to my main criticism of the film. Throughout the commentary and extras, much is made of the fact that JFK was constantly trying to figure out why the Soviets were putting in the missiles. We never see this in the film. (In hindsight, it's obvious that they feared the U.S. would strike first. Remember that the U.S. sent troops to fight the Reds during the Russian Civil War, which many Soviets considered an "attack" by the U.S. on the Soviet Union. Simplistically speaking, they put in the missiles to even out the balance of power.) This DVD edition is interesting in that there is an option where little menus pop up with additional facts and vignettes about the actual Cuban Missile Crisis. For my money, I found the frequency and short length of these mini-documentaries to be distracting - I found I would prefer these types of extras to be a regular, stand-alone documentary. There is an audio commentary by several of the filmakers that is quite interesting (including the Australian director's take on the Crisis from half a world away). All in all, a good film and a good DVD.
Rating:
Summary: Captivating Historical Drama....Compelling Features
Review: This review refers to the InfiniFilm(New Line Home Entertainment) DVD Edition of "Thirteen Days"....... A true story that held our nation in fear for "Thirteen Days" in October 1962, is now retold and will keep you captivated for the entire length of this outstanding film. A little over fourty years ago, a grim discovery was made on the Island of Cuba. Just 70 miles off our coast, Soviet Nuclear Weapons were photographed, and set off a chain of events that could prove to be distastrous to the world. Our then President John F.Kennedy along with his Special Advisor Kenneth O'Donnell,and the top military officials were forced to make decisions that would either be the beginning of WWIII,or could put an end to the impending catrosphe. Whether or not you are old enough to recall the events that kept a country in the grips of a Cold War, you will be riveted by this historical political thriller, as the story unfolds with the world's two strongest military powers at odds.One wrong decision or impulse could have meant immense devastation and loss of life. Although through history, we know how the events of this "Cuban Missile Crisis" concluded, it does not take away from the tense moments depicted, as we watch our most beloved President stuggle with the decisions he must make. Kevin Costner as O'Donnell, Bruce Greenwood as JFK and Steven Culp as Bobby Kennnedy all turn in splendid performances as they bring these brillant men to life in this story. Director Roger Donaldson has done an excellent job as well in bringing us the feeling of the Whitehouse and a country embroiled in an escalating Cold War. This is my first experience with InfiniFilm and I loved it. Not only were the picture and sound a wonderful experience to view the film in, but the unique features were welcome as well.
While viewing the film, you have the option of having pertinant information "Pop Up" on the screen. If you choose to view the info, it will take you away from the film for few moments to fill you in on details of the events being depicted. This is something that works best after the first viewing, without interuptions, or if you just want to go back after the view to have something explained.There are also a ton a special features. Historical figures Commentary, is most informative and takes you back to years before the missile crisis for background information, and has interesting interviews with candid remarks by Sergei Khruschev(Nikita's son) as well as many others.Please see the tech info for more features. The film is presented in the original widescreen and 5.1 Dolby Digital surround. These are both outstanding.The film and The DVD both captivating and compelling. Relive this important time in our nation's history......Laurie
Rating:
Summary: a rather interesting historical and psychological movie
Review: Overall it is a good movie, and complements "JFK". For me the most interesting aspects are the description of how President Kennedy and his brother try to cope with the crisis, along with the study of their uneasy relationships with the Army Generals. It really changed my perception of Kennedy's character.
Rating:
Summary: Kennedy Administrations finest hour
Review: If you are into post war American presidential history will then watching this movie will be your idea of heaven.The film brings together again Kevin Costner & director Roger Donaldson who stared in & directed the clasic No Way Out. Alot of criticsm has been aimed at Costner post Waterworld but here he puts in his best performance since JFK.Rounding out the main cast is Bruce Greenwood who plays President Kennedy & Steven Culp who plays the then Attorney General Robert Kennedy both these actors are thoroughly convincing right down to the famous Boston twang. Since the director Roger Donaldson knows how to make a tense thriller & the strength of the subject he tackles here there is not much that can go wrong with this movie.Donaldson knows when to increase the tension & when to pull back.There are a number of scenes where even when you know the outcome you are on the edge of your seat.The film also succeeds in capturing the political mood of the times IE the Cold War at its peak. Now as far as to the actual events portrayed & if you think President Kennedy did the right thing well that all depends on your brand of politics.I think he made the right decision in doing the deal & was smart when the russians pressed for the removal of the missiles in Turkey that there be no link made in public (Kennedy knew that the Republicans would raise hell & that he would face the same level of intensity as Truman did for "Having Lost China").After being burnt on the Bay of Pigs Kennedy was very weary of Military advice from the Joint Cheifs & he carried that with him right to the end of his presidency.With that experiance stll fresh in his mind he had alot more confidence in his own insticts he knew that if a mistake like that happened again the consequences would be nothing short of disastrous.
But thankfully the world is pulled back from the brink & the President enjoys his first Foreign Policy success.The ending of the film is well done & is quite emotional as it brings home how terrible the events of Nov 22 1963 were & of course Robert Kennedy in 1968.I urge everyone be it in the US or anywhere else to watch this film & in the process learn something that perhaps they did not know.
Rating:
Summary: Phenomenal and gripping story
Review: This movie is truly worth owning, particularly for younger Americans who aren't really familiar with, or perhaps have trouble conjuring, the amount of tension at the height of the Cold War. I grew up hearing stories of the fear of nuclear war, but never experienced it myself. This movie really demonstrates how close to the brink we were, and the great minds that struggled for a solution that didn't bring WWIII. Despite criticism of the expanded character played by Kevin Costner, the story is kept focused on the Kennedy brothers and their methods of deliberation in a time of unimaginable tension.
Rating: 
Summary: Kevin Costner boston accent....You got to be kidding!?!
Review: For me, this movie was very annoying watching Kevin Costner contrived attempted at adopting a Boston accent in playing the part of Kenny O'Donnell. This is an insult to every Bostonian and those who lives around there and I know this for a fact since I was born and raised in Mass for most of my life before i moved to Cali. Do i still have an accent, yes i do. Do i sound like the character in this movie, heck no!!! And neither does anyone else with a Boston accent. The movie would of been better off if he had just talk normally, and not trying to make fun of an accent when it is surely obvious that he cannot adopt it. I guess being a coproducer of this movie and his big recognizeable name that it gives him the right to make a joke out of every Boston citizens. Those who give this movie 5 star has no idea what a Bostonian sound like but would just go 'oh that sounds cool'. Those who are knowledgeable knows better then to give 5 stars since they feel annoyed as well. Now JFK boston voice is acceptable and convincing but his part is small compare to Kenny's, whom in reality never had that much say in the White House like he did in this movie. If he had talked back to the kennedy's like that, he would be looking for another job in no time. But you have to remember, it's played by Kevin Costner and he deserve to have the spotlight on him because it's an ego thing with big name actors. How many times did we see the first lady, Jackie, in this movie compare to Kenny's wife? I rest my case. If you want to enjoy a very accurate account of the missle crisis and with no fake accent, then watch "The Missiles of October" which I highly recommend. If you are the type who has no clue what a bostonian sound like and enjoy hearing an annoying accent throughout the whole movie, then you will enjoy '13 Days'.
Rating: 
Summary: Too Hollywood
Review: I don't know enough about the Cuban missile crisis to comment on the accuracy of this rendition of that fateful October, '62, so I'm not going to substitute my review with a compact history lesson as so many other reviews both hailing and dissing this flick have done. I was prepared to give this flick the benefit of the doubt, but it seems redolent in its Hollywood phoniness. The script tries to tell the story from the viewpoint of Kevin O'Donnel (Costner), a political advisor whom the script places at all high-level meetings. Instead, the camera seems to focus on O'Donnel only because Costner's face is the most recognizable in this film, and the subjective take on the people and events of October of 1962 come to dominate the entire script - leaving no room for any dissent or doubt as to its message. The script's message, after repeatedly hammering it on us, is that America's civilian leadership narrowly saved the world from a thermonuclear war by carefully steering a course past hawkish Soviets and an even more Hawkish Pentagon. Historians have never settled the debate of just how loyal those apparently warmongering American generals were, but the script for "13" has little time for debate, the actors who play Maxwell Taylor and Curtis LeMay blithely plan for a war they think is unavoidable. (The point is ironically made while Kennedy and the Chiefs of Staff discuss possible reprisals against Cuban missile sites following the shoot-down of a U-2 spy plane; the military accepts the President's refusal to strike back with little argument, knowing that "we'll just kick their [tails] on Monday", the deadline for WWIII. While fans of this flick will alternatively excuse historical lapses because of the film's dramatic qualities, or ask the rest of us to overlook its thin melodrama for the sake of history, "13" fails at both because its characters lack any of the nuance essential in both in-depth historical analysis and superior drama. The film never even answers a question it unintentionally raises - if our military was about as bad as the Soviet generals, maybe that had more to do with getting the Russians to back down than the film's implicit answer (spoken by the Russian Ambassador to RFK - that the president was a good man surrounded by warmongers). The script also overlooks the importance of the U-2 shoot down as a wake-up call to the Russians (death is always a great wake-up call). Instead, the film credits a back-room deal in which the Yanks agreed to remove obsolete Jupiter missiles from Turkey. Yanking the Jupiters out of Turkey always struck me as a non-event in the overall crisis - the obsolete rockets were going to be scrapped anyway, and the conditions of the deal allowed the Americans to avoid any admission that they were backing down to induce the Russians to pull their missiles out of Cuba. In other words, why would the Russians back down as part of an agreement that gave them little political or military capital? Playing up the deal only substantiates Curt LeMay's insistence (if the flick is to be believed) that the Russians had to be dictated to rather than negotiated with. The rest of the film also suffers from Hollywood's general inability to craft historical characters who can speak in anything but historically significant dialog (one example is during RFK's car trip to the Soviet Embassy in which he confides his insecurities with O'Donnel. "I was supposed to be the smart one", he laments, obviously feeling less than up to the task of saving the world from WWIII). Instead of this flick, give "The Missiles of October" a try. If you're not into historical accuracy, try reading "Resurrection Day", a novel set in the aftermath of the missile crisis, which otherwise shares with "13" an unquestionably negative stance towards the joint chiefs, but takes an initially inventive approach in that in that story, the Russians did not back down....
Rating:
Summary: A Gripping Film and A Valuable History Lesson
Review: Most Americans over 50 will never forget those 13 days, when the world teetered on the brink of nuclear holocaust. What this film does is to deliver a powerful dramatization of those events. Robert Greenwood is completely believable as Kennedy, and Steven Culp as RFK is positively spooky the way he nails that role. The movie is incredible in its portrayal of how Kennedy was only barely able to keep matters from spinning out of control. Between his ultra right-wing generals spoiling for a war with the Soviets and a Kremlin in total chaos, it's astonishing we're all still here. This was one time in history when the will of good men prevailed. It's interesting to view this movie in light of previously classified information about the Cuban Missile Crisis that has been disclosed recently by the Russians. The situation was far more dangerous than Kennedy realized. What we didn't know at the time was that the Soviets had stationed a wolf pack of submarines lying in wait inside the quarantine zone, each armed with a nuclear warhead torpedo, and with orders to use them against American naval vessels if attacked. One was. Yet the Soviet captain decided, miraculously, even as we were depth charging his sub, not to start a nuclear war. This is a timely film, and one that should be required viewing for all Americans.
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