The book by Michael Zuckoff, 13 Hours: The Inside Account of What Really Happened in Benghazi is an up close account of what took place in Libya in 2012. When it was announced that director Michael Bay was in charge of the project, there was worry that this would be yet another over-produced movie from the director. And to no one's suprise, the film premiered to mixed reviews.
People have worked for years to forget his last attempt at a war film: Pearl Harbor. For Bay, casting known comedic actor John Krasinski, as lead in a war film was certainly, well, interesting.
The film sits at 58% on Rotten Tomatoes, where they sum up the film with, "The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi is a comparatively mature and restrained effort from Michael Bay, albeit one that can't quite boast the impact its fact-based story deserves."
According to IMDB, the synopsis for 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi, tells the story of Jack Silva (John Krasinski) a former Navy Seal turned CIA contractor leads a team of former military veterans turned contractors to hold off Islamic extremist until American defense aid arrives.
In the actual attack in 2012, Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans were killed in the ambush on the U.S. Embassy. Because it took defense aid too so long to show up, the GOP has pointed the finger at Hilary Clinton (whom at the time was Secretary of Defense). The GOP is under the impression that Clinton purposely withheld aid and left them out there to fend for themselves. The situation is still under investigation.With Benghazi being such a loaded situation that is still being investigated, some have asked if it is simply too early for a film documenting the events at Benghazi.
With a lousy track record of stale action films, it left people to question whether Michael Bay is capable of portraying a story like this in a serious manner. Maybe he is trying to turn over a new leaf? It's obvious he really wants an Oscar, so 13 Hours is his opportunity to show that he deserves it. At least there is no mention of any political figure or people of interest, so it doesn't necessarily play out like military propaganda.
However, the film did not necessarily make the box office budget it expected. It did do well in the red states and among conservatives. Either way, it seems like this was his best film since the first Transformers movie. 13 Hours shows that he can produce mindless, mediocre action films, as well as decent Oscar bait.
