The fight for survival rages inside and out in director Michael Bay’s “13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi,” a look at the 2012 terrorist attacks in Benghazi, Libya. The film excels in action but falters with thin characters, following a group of men fighting to do what is right.
Timothy Hogg
After the Libyan Civil War, unrest erupted in Benghazi on September 11, 2012. Islamic militants attacked a diplomatic compound, killing a U.S. ambassador, and plunged the city into chaos. A mile away, at a secret CIA outpost, a group of private contractors including Jack Silva (John Krasinski), Tyrone “Rone” Woods (James Badge Dale), and Glen “Bud” Doherty (Toby Stephens) realize that backup is not coming, and they are the final defense for the Americans at the base.
Known for his explosive “Transformers” series, “13 Hours” is, in part, a step in a fresh direction for Michael Bay. Instead of focusing on a teenage audience, his direction feels and shows that more care was given to the project, using combat action to tell the story instead of merely supporting it. This approach is handled with respect; the dire situation of the CIA contractors is displayed in its entirety, and the film manages to take a neutral political stance.
Politics are not the driving force of the story; instead, the fight is preluded, emphasized, and shown as a drawn-out, bloody struggle. In this way, the filmmakers are able to dedicate the story to the real-life soldiers, although minor changes have been made for the sake of drama. The film follows the action and Bay does this well, leaving the focus on the characters. Viewers are transported into the heart of the conflict; every few minutes another scene keeps the audience engaged.
However, this surplus of action is also one of the weaknesses. With a runtime of 144 minutes, “13 Hours” feels much longer than it already is. Throughout the second half, fatigue sets in as one wonders how long the film can highlight its continuous action. And Bay’s fast-paced style compounds this issue; so much happens in such short spans, making it seem as if a large amount of time has passed. The result is a film that feels like it is never going to end.
But probably the biggest problem in the story is the attempted development of its characters. The actors portray real people, and from here the issue stems; bound by the reality of the event, the filmmakers have not done anything truly groundbreaking with the story. The situation remains the same standard, cookie-cutter development that audiences have seen in previous war films, and the dramatic moments do little to allow the audience to catch their breath.
Director Michael Bay’s “13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi” follows the 2012 terrorist attack in Benghazi with fast-paced action, and an uninspired view of its central characters. What the film does right, however, is emphasize the struggle its characters are forced to make. The story ultimately gives audiences the opportunity to witness the carnage first-hand, and be absorbed by the action.
My grade: 6.5 out of 10 stars.
(Timothy Hogg is a copy editor for The Derrick./The News-Herald. He has a minor in film and media studies from Slippery Rock University. Readers may contact him by email at timothyhogg.thederrickgmail.com.)
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