Review of Thirteen Days (2000) by Jeremy S — 25 Apr 2010

Suspenseful docudrama detailing the various debates within the White House during the Cuban Missile Crisis in October of 1962. Directed superlatively by Roger Donaldson, it plays like a thriller with limited action.

Writer David Self knows the inner workings of President Kennedy's administration and how agendas of the various military and political leaders causes friction on how to respond without going to war.

There is a bit too much reverence directed towards the idealism of the Kennedys and the military leaders are presented as obvious warmongers. More problematic is the story is told from the point of view of a JFK aide, whose role in the events has been highly exaggerated, played with bland nobility by Kevin Costner.

Bruce Greenwood doesn't look or sound like JFK but he gives a marvelous performance. Greenwood smartly doesn't try for an impersonation but conveys the crafty intelligence and doubts surrounding a man with the weight of the world on his shoulders.

Steven Culp is equally forceful as RFK. With Stephanie Romanov, who strikingly resembles Jackie Kennedy; Dylan Baker as Robert McNamara; Michael Fairman as Adlai Stevenson; Kevin Conway as Curtis LeMay; Jack McGee as Richard Daley; and Lucinda Jenney.