Kevin's JFK does an average job on the Cuban Missile Crisis

Rating: Null/10 (23 May 2001)

A reconstruction of the Cuban Missile Crisis focusing on JFK, his advisers and their handling of the events. In the theme of Apollo 13, dealing with famous historical events in which the outcome is known.

The opening credits hold so much promise. Dramatic footage of nuclear explosions set a mood of apocalyptic dread. However as the film unfolded I was disappointed and bored. The movie seemed to consist of various scenes clumped together without attention to creating a mood. Fading from black and white to colour and back again could have been used well but became annoying. JFK was presented as a 2 dimensional character who nervously fumbled through his lines occasionally remembering to add a facial twitch or two. Kevin Costner should not be allowed to say so many lines. 13 Days seems to be Costner's pet project in which he gets to play a major role in the Cuban Missile Crisis. If the movie had taken a more gritty approach and set a mood of sombre tension through the use of more imaginative camera angles, dialogue and characterisation then it would have been more interesting. The movie didn't bother either to give any impression of the national mood or the any glimpse into the Russian perspective.

All in all: 1 and 1/2 stars.
If you like Kevin Costner see "The Postman." If you like movies about nuclear warfare watch `Dr Strangelove' or `The Beach'