Posted on 01/16/2016 4:14:48 AM PST by afraidfortherepublic
Michael Bay's 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi is a fantastic film, no less excellent for its surprisingly subtle political commentary. Far better than any direct attack ad, this film blasts President Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton while telling a compelling story of terror and heroism.
Cinekatz reviewer Vivek Subramanyam declared that "Michael Bay was born to make this movie." Despite its hyperbole, this statement captures the combination of the action director behind "Transformers" and the tragic but thrilling tale of the September 11, 2012 terror attacks in Benghazi, Libya.
The film, based on the Mitchell Zuckoff book 13 Hours: The Inside Account of What Really Happened in Benghazi, tells the story of six ex-military security contractors working for a secret CIA base near the diplomatic compound which housed U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens. The movie shows how difficult it was for these men to tell friend from foe -- were the native Libyans on their side, or waiting for the perfect moment to kill them?
A nail-biter from start to finish, 13 Hours shows events in what seems like real time, jumping from location to location. The film has a purposefully disorienting feel, heightened by ominous music and stunning cinematography -- each shot captures incredible detail of a city at war with itself.
The movie is surprisingly funny despite the grave circumstances. (One commando asks another: "You're going to fight the Holy War in your shorts? Strong move.") The acting mostly takes a backseat to the action, but John Krasinski (Navy SEAL Jack Silva) and James Badge Dale (Navy SEAL Tyrone Woods) nail their characters' courage. Woods' disobeyal of direct orders ("None of you have to go, but we are the only hope they have") is powerful.
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Unavoidably political, the film bears three themes that condemn the leadership of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton:
"The Dark Shadow Of Tyranny Has Been Lifted"
After announcing dictator Muammar Gaddaf's death, President Obama declared:
"This is a momentous day in the history of Libya. The dark shadow of tyranny has been lifted."
The movie begins with a clip of this statement, immediately followed by images of street militias getting their hands on the old regime's weapons, and scenes of bloody violence thereafter. The carnage and death that characterizes the city of Benghazi throughout the film itself stands as a strong rebuke to Obama's decision -- advocated by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and others -- to aid the overthrow of Gaddafi's government. Warfare, not an "Arab Spring," followed the fall of the old regime; the September 11, 2012 attack was only the slightest American taste of the country's bloodshed.
Obama's speech did not end with "the dark shadow of tyranny has been lifted." He continued, placing the ultimate outcome in the hands of the Libyan people:
"With this enormous promise, the Libyan people now have a great responsibility to build an inclusive, and tolerant, and democratic Libya that stands as the ultimate rebuke to Gaddafi's dictatorship."
Obama horribly miscalculated this possibility. It was not just the Libyan people who achieved the defeat of Gaddafi -- the continued American presence in the country presented a difficult political problem, illustrated by the armed Libyans who both attacked and defended Americans throughout the film.
2. "State's Already Blaming Al-Sharia"
Right after flying from Tripoli to Benghazi to join the attack, Glen Doherty (Toby Stephens) delivers a quick line damning Hillary Clinton:
"State's already blaming Al-Sharia."
Doherty means that the U.S. Department of State had already identified terrorist group Ansar Al-Sharia as the attack perpetrators. The movie later mocked the Obama administration's statements blaming the attack on protests against an anti-Islamic YouTube video titled Innocence of Muslims. When Jack Silva hears this, he immediately responds:
"We didn't hear any protests."
From the beginning, the attack was organized. Assailants were armed with AK-47s, rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), and -- devastatingly -- three mortars.
In these few isolated moments, 13 Hours subtly reminds Americans that they were lied to about the Benghazi attacks for political capital in the November 2012 election.
3. "I Called for Support. It Never Came."
Moment-by-moment, 13 Hours subtly and powerfully shows the real tragedy of the 2012 Benghazi attacks -- a lack of support from the powerful U.S. military. The film notes the time when the White House heard about the attack, and the time when two brave Americans were killed in mortar fire. No less than 7 hours pass.
Waiting for support is a constant theme throughout the film, beginning from the moment we hear about the attack on the ambassador's quarters. Tyrone Woods is jumping to go help the ambassador, but his boss specifically forbids him to go. "You are not the first responders -- you're the last resort. You will wait," the man declares. This hesitation could have been the difference between life and death.
The audience sees Ambassador Chris Stevens running into the most secure area of the temporary embassy as militants storm the facility, shoot up the American flag (in a moment of truly tragic but beautiful art) and proceed to blast their way into his building. As the seconds tick by, you keep waiting for our heroes to rush in, for the U.S. military to send an airstrike, but nothing happens.
This waiting game continues throughout the film, as our heroes must kill scores upon scores of assailants armed with automatic rifles, grenade launchers, and the occasional big explosive. As the hours creep by, civilians below find out that the U.S. military has assets less than a two-hour flight away, but no one comes.
But It's Not All Politics
Despite these damning political themes, 13 Hours is much more than just a 2-hour attack ad. In graphic detail, it illustrates the dangers of the Middle East, the complications of U.S. involvement, and how hard it is for Americans on the ground to tell friend from foe. It drops you into another world, and shows you what true heroism looks like.
The movie is rated R for good reason -- it shows real military life, complete with the coarse language and gruesome wounds in battle. Seeing men blow each other's brains out with professional precision is rightly off limits to children. But don’t be fooled -- despite all the tragic death and violence, the movie has redemption in spades.
In the end, 13 Hours isn't about a terror plot to destroy America, or the potentially damning decisions of elected officials in Washington. It's about six home-grown American family men who lay their lives on the line for each other against impossible odds. And that's a hero's tale worth telling, no matter the political fallout.
Video clip at link.
We saw this film last night. I thought I was prepared, but I’m still shaking. I have a grandson who has applied for and received multiple recommendations for 2 miiitary academies. I texted his iiparents from the theater asking if they were sure that they wanted their son to go there. wouldn’t a nice, safe, state school be a better option. (He already has full scholarships at 2.)
I’m glad I saw the film, but I am stunned at the brutality. This is no “American Revoluton” story where the soldiers have pretty uniforms and just fall over in ranks while the general rides off on a big horse.
I’m amazed that only 4 Americans were killed. The bravery and skill of a few are responsible for that.
Who was the CIA chief? What a wuss! No wonder he calls the film a pack of lies and claims that he never gave a “stand down” order. Frankly I believe our surviving soldiers.
Yeah and? does this mean we are in for another GOP carnival show that leads no where?
Local theater near me sold out every performance yesterday and I ended up seeing The Revenant in the adjacent theater. Crowds coming out had very positive comments but were mainly older Americans. I certainty hope younger Americans flock to this film and recognize the roles played by Obama and Hillary.
—— The dark shadow of tyranny has been lifted——
Meanwhile in America, the dark tyrant continues his dictatorial ways
Don’t get any crazier than that!
Alot I think. Congress has had their chance and wasted it. Now the eletorate gets their chance. I think the movie has broad appeal contrary to some of the reviews saying its a ‘conservative’ movie. Its about our guys in a foreign country abandoned by their govt. That hits a nerve in all but the most left wing camps. Its a reminder that Hillary, and dems in general, cant be trusted in a world that becoming increasingly dangerous. Lets see now if the electorate will waste their chance.
We should understand one salient fact.
According to the testimony of those in the State Department in October 2012 during Congressional hearings, the video cameras at the Embassy and the CIA annex were broadcasting these events LIVE to the White House, the State Department and to every major military installation and capital ships in the region on the military communication networks, on large screens.
That’s right—LIVE and in living color.
Everyone KNEW what was happening—they were not only told, but they could SEE it. They were WATCHING this unfold as these brave mene were living it.
And still, help was denied.
Obama,Biden,Clinton,Jarrett,Panetta,Dempsey—all traitors who willingly allowed good Americans to die without material support.
Don’t forget there were 42 Americans total in Benghazi that night.
Four died, and 38 were rescued.
These traitors were willing to expend 42 Americans and for what reason?
The only reason is a covert operation to run weapons to Al Quada for Syria. That is why the Turkish envoy met with Stevens just prior to the attack. The weapons transhipped through Turkey to the rebels.
Trey Gowdy, you better get to the bottom of this. Fast.
Three years have passed already.
All hell is about to break loose as more Americans see this film.
My tagline is from the Congressional testimony of Eric Nordstrom who was the in charge of security for the embassies. The building he refers to is not in Benghazi, but rather in DC.
American commandos like making fun of each other - especially in dire circumstances.
It is the way they say they care...
WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IS MAAAAKEEE!!! My God, can you imagine having to listen to that voice for 8 years? AHHHH! I actually get physically nauseous just thinking about her being introduced as President then giving her state of the union.
I have often wondered why none of those 38 survivors were never called to testify by Trey Gowdy.
There are multiple levels of deceit coming from the Democrats about Libya.
Play out the gun-running scenario as being why Benghazi scares Hillary and Obama.
The world finds out that Hillary and Obama were providing weapons from Libya to the rebels in Syria. What happens? They claim to be for freedom loving people everywhere. The Press goes back to sleep.
The gun-running wasn’t what caused Hillary and Obama to run to their bedrooms and hide under the bed.
What caused Hillary and Obama to panic was something that could land them in jail.
They did not have the interests of the citizens of The United States in mind when they attacked Libya and had Qadaffi killed.
Hillary and Obama went into Libya to steal the wealth that Qadaffi had accumulated. The wealth that belonged to Libya.
The enemy caught them and attacked at Benghazi to bring the world’s attention to the criminal actions of Obama and Hillary in Libya.
Then, they started blackmailing Hillary and Obama. Where do you think that $6,000,000,000 that Hillary “lost” at the State Department went? It went to pay blackmail to our enemies.
They might have been, but maybe in secret. I am not positive about that.
But they need to be heard from.
We are just now, through this movie, learning some of their names.
Love that tagline. I will never forget hearing Nordstrom say it, and it plays over again in my mind every time I see evidence revealing how chillingly true it is.
And maybe to pay off those who could testify to the truth.
Thanks. I have realized also how much Nordstrom risked to say it—he is a real patriot.
“I have often wondered why none of those 38 survivors were never called to testify by Trey Gowdy.”
2 + 2 = 4 is still true.
Our representatives are all and to a man either corrupt or scared. It doesn’t matter much which one. It renders them all ineffectual as far as the interests of America are concerned.
I read that Donald Trump rented a whole theater in Iowa last night to show this film and handed out free tickets. Smart move.
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