Nailbiting thrills, hairraising insights

Rating: 8/10 (4 March 2001)

Since a lof of people have offered their comments on "Thirteen Days" I want stress two aspects only:
Number 1: The fact that we´re all here to discuss this and other movies is ample evidence that somehow the then world-leaders in charge did manage not to blow earth to smithereens. Whether it worked exactly the way it is shown in the movie is beyond my knowledge, but the way that is highlighted in the movie will serve as a number one example about how to do a thriller whose ending is public knowledge without losing your audience from the word go. In fact it´s a nailbiting suspense movie that´ll keep you at the edges of your seats.
Number 2: After all that facts and fiction about the Kennedys (thank you very much Oliver Stone!), we tend to forget how young these people actually were when they had been given the power to preserve or destroy the earth. "Thirteen Days" reminds one of these fact and that´s another reason why this films keeps holding you in its grip from start to finish.
"Thirteen Days" is not a Kevin-Costner-flic. The main function of his invented character (how much it basically is a supporting role becomes evident in the major crises scenes, where he has to take the back seets) seems to be the one scene when his wife mentions that not only the Kennedys but he himself was also bright, to which he responds with deeper insight, "no not like them", thereby gloryfying them once more. Maybe that´s why "Thirteen Days" ironically reminds one of why Mr. Costner was considered a major star and acting force in Hollywood once.