13 HOURS: THE SECRET SOLDIERS OF BENGHAZI

(January 2016, U.S.)

Off all the directors in Hollywood today, Michael Bay is the last one I'd ever have expected to surprise me with a film like 13 HOURS, based on Mitchell Zuckoff's book. I mean, this is a man whom I've personally accused of being nothing more than a demolition expert because of his tendency to offer not much more in his movies than constantly blowing shit up. Yet, here he is, offering us an American biographical war film which follows six members of the Annex Security Team who bravely fought to defend the American diplomat compound in Benghazi, Libya after several attacks by violent militants on September 11, 2012, eleven years after the tragedy of 9/11, in one of the best films of its kind, in my opinion, since Ridley Scott's 2001 film BLACK HAWK DOWN.

Prior to watching this film, all I really understood about what occurred in Benghazi in 2012 was that then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton took much of the responsibility for denying the additional security that was needed at the American compound prior to the attacks. The film however, concentrates solely on the events that took place and the men who acted like brave American soldiers rather than attempt to make any political statement or accusation toward any high-ranking White House official. Rest assured, however, Michael Bay still knows how to blow shit up very well in this one.

The film opens by making it very clear that Benghazi, Libya is one of the most dangerous places in the world, causing other countries to pull their diplomatic offices out of the country in fear of being attacked by militants. However, the U.S. still maintains a diplomatic compound in the city. Less than a mile away is the CIA outpost called "The Annex", which is protected by a team of private American military contractors. These soldiers are exactly what you'd expect to find in a modern-day war film; tough, arrogant, cocky and constantly joking around with each other using high degrees of profanity (but then, that's probably just the way we want it!). The CIA Chief on hand is exactly the type of bureaucratic, pain-in-the-ass you'd expect to be giving the team strict reminders on how to do their job and which rules they're forbidden to break, including never to engage the citizens.

U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens (played by Matt Letscher) arrives in Benghazi to maintain diplomatic connections and relations amidst the social and political chaos taking place. Ultimately, Stevens becomes the target of attack by failing to remain with limited armed protection. Before we can even begin to appreciate any signs of peace and luxury the soldiers get to enjoy during their stay in a foreign country, the assaults have begun when attackers gain easy access to the Special Mission compound. Like any traditional combat film, bullets fly and bombs explode. Ambassador Stevens is inevitably killed when his building is set ablaze by attackers who fail to gain access to his safe room. Knowing that more attacks are imminent, the Annex's CIA staff begin making desperate calls for help, and all they can get is assistance from a Tripoli officer, who forms a team of Delta operators to fly to Benghazi to mount a rescue. As the Annex is breached, the soldiers continue to fend off the militants during their largest attack wave. Blood is shed, lives on both sides are lost, but in the end, America triumphs in that the innocent escape the violence of the land and are rescued to live another day.

13 HOURS, if nothing else, is a sure sign of maturity by Michael Bay who's not looking to make a film which caters to sci-fi-loving teenage boys, much in the way that Steven Spielberg finally matured with THE COLOR PURPLE in the 80s (but with a lot less violence and blood). The impact that a fact-based story as this delivers is very strong. The characters, while not distinctively strong, are plausible and respected because we're forced to understand and appreciate that these are American men with love in their hearts and families back home, who must wage a war in a country they have no business being in in the first place (much like Vietnam). As an action thriller, the battle sequences that focus on real-life attacks are well-choreographed, and shit gets blown up when it has to. War, like in many modern films before it, is gritty and without Hollywood glamour. Libya, of course, delivered much controversy upon the film's release, believing it ignored the contributions of the local people who tried to help. We may empathize with such an accusation, if we wish, or we can permit 13 HOURS to focus our attention on American heroes who do what's right, and the sacrifices they make on a daily basis, both on their own soil and overseas where they are ultimately treated like strangers in a strange land.

Favorite line or dialogue:

Jack Silva (to the Benghazi CIA Chief-of-Station): "You're not giving orders! You're in my world now!"