Above And Beyond..."13 Hours"

13 Hours (2016)

Rated R

Starring John Krasinski, James Badge Dale, Pablo Schreiber, David Denman, Dominic Fumusa, Max Martini, David Costabile, Matt Letscher,

Directed by Michael Bay

The Story:

Benghazi, Libya. In 2012, it was declared one of the most dangerous places on Earth, and pretty much all foreign governments pulled out of the area. The United States left a sorta secret CIA base in the area, and they were defended by former military special ops personnel. On September 11th, Ambassador Stevens (Letscher) has come to Benghazi to spread the message of peace through the land, and that's when terrorists decide to storm the Ambassador's compound. The security team at the CIA base want to go protect the Ambassador, but are told to stand down by the Chief (Costabile). They finally defy his orders and go to try and save the Ambassador before it's too late.

And we all know how it ends.

Ambassador Stevens and 3 of the security team members would die as a result of the attacks on the 2 compounds.

I won't name the names here, you can find them on a million news reports, and it then spoils which actors wind up getting killed.

It's more stressing not knowing which characters are going to end up not making the trip home alive, and you feel the tension and stress that the movie tries to convey.

Speaking of which, Michael Bay, give him credit, tells a really powerful war story here.

He's aided by a wonderful cast of mostly actors that you haven't seen before, minus Krasinski, who pulls off the role as a former Special Ops who is now wanting to provide for his family by taking this dangerous assignment.

By the 45 minute mark or so, you're so invested in these characters, you almost don't want to keep watching the movie because you know bad things are going to happen.

Plus, you know my usual complaint about how movies are too long or feel longer than they are?

That doesn't apply here.

The 2 1/2 hours are riveting and you remain engaged throughout.

As for the political finger-pointing that comes with this movie, Bay sidesteps pointing any direct fingers at the White House or those in positions of power that could have done something, but the implication is there that something could have been done in a much timelier manner.

It was a tragedy that shouldn't have happened and also shouldn't be ignored.

Final Grade: Solid B  /  B+

You'll Never Forget The Events Of "Parkland"

Parkland (2013)

Rated PG-13

Starring Zac Efron, Marcia Gay Harden, Paul Giamatti, Billy Bob Thornton, Ron Livingston, James Badge Dale,

Written and Directed by Peter Landesman

The Story:

November 22nd, 1963. Dallas Texas. A chilling date in history shown from the perspectives of the many lives that were woven together over the course of the next few days in the most harrowing fashion. One day changed the course of America, and these people were all first-hand witnesses as it happened.

There is a lot to cram into 90 minutes of movie.

You know how you can complain that a movie was too long, or felt like it took forever?

The opposite could be held true here.

Apparently it was planned as a miniseries for HBO, but alas, that didn't pan out, and what's left is made up as Parkland.

The movie takes its name from Parkland Hospital, where they took Kennedy after he was shot.  It was here that the medical staff (Efron, Harden and many more) work frantically to save his life. Then they are tasked just days later with trying to save another gunshot victim.

Then there is Mr. Zaprudar (Giamatti) who goes out to record the President and winds up with the footage of a lifetime that takes such a huge toll on his life.

There's the Dallas FBI Agent (Livingston) who learns that Oswald was in the bureau very recently.

Speaking of Oswald, his brother's (Dale) story is perhaps the most tragic of the whole group.

Finally there is Agent Sorrells (Thornton) who realizes he is the first Secret Service head to lose a President.

Taking a sad true story, and adding a layer of lives that were profoundly affected by that tragedy makes for a harrowing experience that should have been extended, but for what they managed to create, well done.

Final Grade: B