Great Performances, Terrible Accents

Rating: Null/10 (21 October 2004)

Thirteen Days really puts into perspective how close we came to nuclear war and the destruction of millions of people (everyone in the U.S. except Seattle, Washington). It gives a dynamic example of the horror we faced during the Cuban Missile Crisis and the strong, resilient character that JFK and his Cabinet possessed. Bruce Greenword (JFK) and Steven Culp (Robert Kennedy) give brilliant performances as Kennedy brothers encompassing all the confidence and stability they exuded while in power. Kevin Costner, however, delivers a forgettable portrayal as Kenny O'Donnell with quite possibly the worst Boston accent I've ever heard. His character is the Special Assistant to the President and was never actually a real person. He acts as the link that ties everything together. Thirteen Days takes you step by step in the decision making process concerning what to do with Cuba and the threat they posed. Soviets had been secretly stashing missiles in Cuba and the U.S. needed a resolution to prevent them from being set off. The real debate throughout the movie was which method to use: Airstrike, Blockade(Quarantine), or Negotiations. The movie does have its embellishments in order to heighten the suspense but what movie doesn't thats based on true events. The movie gives off a sense of patriotism as the country stands together in a time of imminent destruction. They should have showed more vantage points from the Soviets and Cuba, but instead, they only focused on American perspective. It was a rough time for citizens of the United States and knowing that any day could begin with nuclear attack, the government kept its cool and progressed. I recommend this movie to anyone interested in the Cuban Missile Crisis, aside from the lackluster performance of Costner and the cheesy black and white scenes, for its excellent depiction of America as a strong-willed nation in a time of this urgency and magnitude.