EXTREMELY well done, even if there are some annoying Bay-isms still present

Rating: 9/10 (21 January 2016)

Michael Bay has pulled off what Peter Berg did two years back, direct complete trash--Berg's "Battleship"/Bay's "Transformers: Age of Extinction"--followed by gold. "Lone Survivor" redeemed Berg, and while it's a bit harder to say that "13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi" has redeemed Bay (Bay has made quite a few awful movies) it at least shows that he is capable of making a fantastic movie.
This is a movie that treats the actual story of what went down in Benghazi on September 11th 2012 with respect. I was riveted the whole way through as it is honest, entertaining and gut-wrenching. It doesn't concern itself with the politics too much, but it doesn't ignore it either, as by the end you just have to ask yourself why, despite having a drone video feed to observe the carnage, wasn't the U.S. Government quick to respond and save American lives? Hillary Clinton doesn't want you knowing why. (Yes liberals, I went there)
You wouldn't think the acting in a Michael Bay movie would be any good either, but I can't think of a single actor who didn't give a competent performance in this. Directing-wise, some Bay-isms are still present, but only a few are really distracting. (namely a awkwardly placed slow-motion mortar shell moment)
Please go see this movie in theaters, because if a Great Bay movie doesn't prove financially viable, he could lapse back into transformers crap.