Michael Bay undrapes the American flag from his shoulders to make his best movie yet

Rating: 7/10 (5 July 2016)

There isn't a ton of depth here, since it is essentially about a single day-in-the-life (and death) of a group of people serving their country. What is most impressive is what Michael Bay does and doesn't do with it.
Unlike most of his other movies involving the military, this time Bay leaves the eye-rolling patriotism out and just tells a story with some of his most understated visuals, granted, there is still overuse of shining light into the camera, making a few scenes, that should have felt genuinely dramatic, too stylized.
It's not without other problems, like the moments when Bay just HAS TO add Hollywood explosions where realistic ones would have made the movie feel even more powerful, but it's surprisingly without preachy political BS.
I think what hurts this movie is that it is called "13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi" because while I'm sure the word "Benghazi" definitely draws in the usual crowd to the movie, it also likely drives some away.
To sum up:
A solid movie about terrible things happening to people serving in a dangerous place. It is not a political movie demonstrating evidence that your least favorite side purposely tried to destroy the country you and they claim to love. And if less sentimental in spots, could have even been an 8 out of 10.