One of the great political thrillers of all time

Rating: 10/10 (11 January 2008)

From the terrific acting to the beautifully written script to the masterful directing, this is easily one of the greatest political thrillers ever made. I don't care if Costner's accent is not the best, he acted his *ss off in this movie. And both Steven Culp and Bruce Greenwood(the Kennedys) deserved Best Supporting Oscar noms for their work. This is a film that chronicles the thirteen days of the Cuban Missile Crisis. What is lost in the film's brisk pace, constant plot twists and the unbelievably immersive acting, is the fact that much of this really happened. How it's taken to the year 2000 to make such a film out of this story is beyond me, but this film is pure craftsmanship on every level. I didn't see it until 2002(came out in 2000), but when I did, I was shocked to find out that it was not at least nominated for Best Director and Supporting Actor. Greenwood IS JFK, but even his remarkable performance is overshadowed by Culp's Bobby Kennedy. The truth in the way they portray this subdued emotion is evident in every scene. But the true master of craft in this film is the director. Roger Donaldson's work in this picture should be a film school staple for teaching interior camera setups and blocking actors. They are few interior locations, so it must have been a real challenge for him to keep it fresh. But the way he handles it with the camera's movements complementing the actors movements and the way he adjusts it throughout the film to serve the story was something I felt only unconsciously at first. But after repeated viewings, it became clear I was watching a director at the top of his craft.
This film is a must-see if you are 1) a U.S. history buff 2) a fan of the political thriller genre(plenty of action too) or 3) great ensemble acting.