13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi
Movie Synopsis
13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi is a 2016 American biographical war thriller film directed by Michael Bay. The movie is based on the 2014 non-fiction book of the same name by Mitchell Zuckoff, which tells the story of the 2012 Benghazi attack.
Plot
The film takes place on September 11, 2012, on the 11th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. The story revolves around a team of six members of the Annex Security Team, a group of CIA contractors, who are stationed in Benghazi, Libya.
The team consists of Jack Silva (John Krasinski), Tyrone "Rone" Woods (James Badge Dale), Kris "Tanto" Paronto (Pablo Schreiber), Mark "Oz" Geist (Max Martini), John "Tig" Tiegen (Dominic Fumusa), and Dave "Boon" Benton (David Denman).
The team is tasked with providing security for the CIA outpost in Benghazi, known as "The Annex." The outpost is located about a mile from the U.S. consulate, where Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens (Matt Letscher) is staying.
On the night of the attack, the team receives a distress call from the consulate, which is under attack by a group of Islamist militants. The team is forced to defy orders and launch a rescue mission to save the lives of those trapped in the consulate.
As the team fights to rescue the Americans, they face heavy gunfire and explosions, and the situation becomes increasingly dire. Despite being vastly outnumbered, the team manages to hold off the attackers and evacuate the survivors to the Annex.
The Aftermath
However, the attack on the Annex is far from over. The militants continue to launch waves of attacks, and the team is forced to fight for their lives. The film's climax features an intense and emotional confrontation between the team and their attackers.
The movie concludes with the aftermath of the attack, which resulted in the deaths of four Americans, including Ambassador Stevens. The film ends with a sense of loss and outrage, but also with a sense of pride and respect for the bravery and sacrifice of the Benghazi heroes.
Cast
- John Krasinski as Jack Silva
- James Badge Dale as Tyrone "Rone" Woods
- Pablo Schreiber as Kris "Tanto" Paronto
- Max Martini as Mark "Oz" Geist
- Dominic Fumusa as John "Tig" Tiegen
- David Denman as Dave "Boon" Benton
- Matt Letscher as Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens
Reception
13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi received generally positive reviews from critics, with many praising the film's intense action sequences and the strong performances of the cast. The movie was also a commercial success, grossing over $69 million worldwide.
However, the film was not without controversy, with some critics accusing Bay of sanitizing the events of the Benghazi attack and ignoring the political context in which it occurred. Despite these criticisms, 13 Hours remains a powerful and thought-provoking film that honors the bravery and sacrifice of the Benghazi heroes.
