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Thirteen Days
2000
A series of beautiful but devastating atomic explosions provides a vision of gorgeous, appalling destruction that hangs ominously over the political drama of THIRTEEN DAYS. It's October 16, 1962 and, it is not just another day at the office for Kenneth O'Donnell (Kevin Costner), the Special Assistant to President John F. .. Read more
| Starring | Kevin Costner, Stephen Culp, Bruce Greenwood, Dylan Baker |
|---|---|
| Director | Roger Donaldson |
| Genres | Drama |
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Thirteen Days
A series of beautiful but devastating atomic explosions provides a vision of gorgeous, appalling destruction that hangs ominously over the political drama of THIRTEEN DAYS. It's October 16, 1962 and, it is not just another day at the office for Kenneth O'Donnell (Kevin Costner), the Special Assistant to President John F. Kennedy (Bruce Greenwood). O'Donnell soon discovers the President has just been handed a series of photographs taken from a U-2 spy plane over Cuba. They show deployed Soviet missile launchers capable of firing medium-range ballistic missiles that could hit all major US cities--except Seattle--within minutes.
THIRTEEN DAYS is a vivid dramatization of what happened in the Kennedy White House during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. Seen through the eyes of O'Donnell, it is a close-up view of President Kennedy and his brother, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy (Steven Culp), as they try to negotiate through a crisis which has many of their closest advisors ready to wage what all feared might have been the ultimate war. The script, by David Self, is based on interviews, CIA documents, and White House tapes. Director Roger Donaldson captures the extraordinary tension in the White House as he brings to life every heart-stopping moment.
| Starring | Kevin Costner, Stephen Culp, Bruce Greenwood, Dylan Baker, Len Cariou, Ed Lauter |
|---|---|
| Director | Roger Donaldson |
| Studio | WALT DISNEY STUDIOS HOME ENTERTAINMENT |
| Run time | DVD: 2 hrs 25 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Drama |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Hearing-impaired | English |
| Subtitles | DVD: English |
| Released | DVD: 01 Aug 2005 Production year: 2000 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (6)
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The Cuban Missile Crisis — a key event in the Kennedy presidency — is brought to life in this fascinating drama starring Kevin Costner and directed by Roger Donaldson (who also collaborated on the thriller No Way Out). In October 1962, President John F Kennedy (a mesmerising performance by Canadian actor Bruce Greenwood) was faced with the prospect of a nuclear showdown, following the discovery of Soviet missile bases in Cuba. Costner, who played district attorney Jim Garrison in JFK, is superb as Kenny O'Donnell, a real-life adviser to the President. Part history lesson and part political drama, Donaldson's film is surprisingly gripping and powerful, despite the essentially static nature of the story. Although the outcome of the crisis isn't in doubt, this is mesmerising viewing, featuring superb performances from an ensemble cast that also includes Steven Culp as attorney general Robert Kennedy.
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Effective and chilling dramatisation of a pivotal moment in world history, shown as it happened at the time, with no attempt at putting the event in a wider historical context, or interest in what was happening in Moscow or the rest of the world.
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Most helpful member's review
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5 out of 5 people found this review helpful
Tense, compelling
Recent events come alive with tense, believable account of the one side (the USA) of the 1962 Cuban missile crisis, which was as near as the world has come to superpower nuclear conflict. Costner excels in an understated, curiously passive, onlooker role; the acting pyrotechnics are from Greenwood as JFK and Culp as RFK.
Great film for smart kids (and adults) with an interest in history, current events, politics. -
Most recent members' review
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1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
Freaky Fortnight
A decent historical thriller about the Cuban Missile Crisis, seen from the point of view of president Kennedy and his most senior advisors. It does a convincing job of showing the difficult decisions which had to be made by the relatively young and inexperienced president. Unfortunately it does not spend enough time showing the impact these decisions had on regular people and therefore lacks any personal touch.
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News and features
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Kevin Costner to star in election comedy
- 09 May 2007
Kevin Costner, who recently starred in lifeguard drama The Guardian, is set to play a single father in a new comedy called Swing Vote. According to Variety, Costner's character will face a tough decision after he finds out his vote will be the deciding ballot paper in a presidential election. The actor, who has previously starred in films such as JFK, Dances with Wolves and The Bodyguard, can currently be seen on cinema screens in The Upside of Anger, opposite Joan Allen. And while fans wait... Read more
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A series of beautiful but devastating atomic explosions provides a vision of gorgeous, appalling destruction that hangs ominously over the political drama of THIRTEEN DAYS. It's October 16, 1962 and, ... -