Review of The Secret Scripture (2017) by Thequietgamer — 14 Aug 2016

The fact that it's based on a true story gives it an extra dose of gut punch. It's not so much a war movie as it is a horror film. Michael Bay does a great job of portraying the events simply as he was told. There's no finger pointing or political messages. It's a movie meant to show the sacrifice of the men and women who were involved in these events.

It manages to do that very well. Bay might not do a really great job of distinguishing these men from another in any meaningful way, but still makes us care for them. Admittedly it is done in some cliché ways. Phone calls back home and long stares at pictures of children are present. However these are how real people feel. It might not be original, but it is human and very effective as a result. The added humorous exchanges between these men, even in their hardest moments, further goes a long way to reminding us that these are real people. Not just cardboard cutouts meant to represent them.

The cast is phenomenal. It was amazing to see John Krasinksi and David Denman in more emotional and action-oriented performances, given their reputation for staring on the sitcom "The Office." Krasinksi in particular puts it all out there in the starring role.

It's definitely got the emotion down, but 13 Hours also nails the action. Michael Bay is no stranger to big explosions. It's kind of the thing everyone associates with him and his work. There is plenty of that here. However it's more restrained and professional than what you would see in his Transformer movies. By that I mean it's all totally believable.

Bay pulls no punches with the brutality. This is no action flick meant to glorify gunfights. It's a mature and horrifying look at the harshness and cruelty of war. The fact that this is all based on true events adds a sense of tension and terror to really pull you into it. It had me more shaken than the majority of horror movies I've watched over the years.

Michael Bay surprises us with another "based on a true story" film. While he still embellishes in his little filmmaking fetishes like big explosions and crude humor here and there, this is by far his most thoughtful and mature work. It portrays the events in a respectable way and does an excellent job of paying respect to those who lost their lives in Benghazi. To top things off, he made it all incredibly great to watch, despite it's flaws.

8.