A very engaging,but typically long Costner film

Rating: Null/10 (20 March 2001)

STAR RATING:*****Unmissable****Very Good***Okay**You Could Go Out For A Meal Instead*Avoid At All Costs
Past years have seen Kevin Costner films which have a tendency of being very lengthy (well into the 3 hour stretch)falling into 2 categories :excellent (JFK) or poor (The Postman,apparently).Luckily however,13 Days falls into the before category ,an interesting indictment of one week in America with President Kennedy (Bruce Greenwood)in power that nearly resulted in nuclear war destroying the world.While indeed the subject matter is determinently involving,the film is sadly marred by consisting mostly of talk and not a lot of action,which might result in even the most fundemental of film viewers becoming lathargic,especially ,as mentioned before,given the film's length.It's almost a cast iron guarantee that any film top billing Costner will run for over at least 2 hours,without generalising in any way,shape or form.His (Costner's) performance itself seems very revised and calculated,and becomes engaging for it's ultimate campishness if anything.Whether writing, directing and indeed acting ,the man is just theatrical.Roger Donaldson employs heavy but sweeping direction of the movie,giving it a Hunt For Red October feel in it's conveyance.Greenwood's performance as the most intrigue surrounded American president of all time is also assuredly down to earth.But the most pressing and disturbing issue of the film is kind of unintentional.It's nearly 40 years after the film is set,and nuclear/atomic weapons of mass destruction crafted by the likes of Russia,Cuba and Iraq are still the things posing the biggest threat to our existence.We may already know the outcome of this film,but isn't it more daunting to think of the outcome of the world?****