Thirteen Days
User Score
7.8 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 24 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 24
  3. Negative: 1 out of 24

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  1. A_Northerner
    Apr 3, 2013
    8
    Led by strong performances by Greenwood and Culp, Thirteen Days is an interesting and taught political drama, even if the final outcome is known to all (hint we weren't all incinerated by mutual nuclear destruction). In addition to the Kennedy administration, the narrative covers the roles of both the military and US UN representatives in the crisis. I've always thought that the roles of military personnel in movies is clichéd in the manner they always push for war, but seeing as this film depicts actual events (according to the source book) it turns out that that is actually the case. In fact, in this case the military chiefs repeatedly undermine JFK's restrained by not cancelling a planned atom bomb test or spy flights close to the Soviet Union.

    The script faithfully recreates actual speeches given by JFK during the crisis, 'not merely peace in our time but peace for all time' and both Greenwood and Culp accurately nail the Boston Irish accent of the Kennedy family. Unfortunately the same cannot be said for the film's lead and producer, Kevin Costner. His accent veers from credible to laughable to non-existent during the film and his failings are only highlighted by his co-stars' performances.    … Expand
  2. Compi24
    Nov 28, 2012
    7
    Even with its occasional stylistic missteps and pacing issues, "Thirteen Days" still grips the audience and solidly establishes its worth as a tense and morally complex political period drama.
  3. OdinD.
    Feb 19, 2004
    10
    This movie really great.
  4. TimC.
    Aug 31, 2001
    4
    Kevin Costner can't act, that accent he was trying to do was awful. I couldn't watch the whole movie.
  5. RyanM.
    Aug 15, 2001
    9
    Many films of it's type will fall short of complete fascination, not "Thirteen Days," and it does it over 145 minutes.
  6. TedB.
    Aug 6, 2001
    8
    The storyline, attention to detail, and most of the acting was top rate. The greatest detraction is Costner's attempt at a "Bahston" accent. Fire the dialog coach!
  7. InesP.
    Jul 17, 2001
    8
    I would have never willingly gone to see this movie. I would have expected it to be either bland or sensational. Since they had it in the plane I was in, I thought I might as well watch. I am glad I did. The suspense mounts as the movie unfolds in spite of knowing exactly how it ends.
  8. ArthurH.
    Jul 11, 2001
    9
    Thought all the actors actually looked like the real people they portrayed.
  9. Elvis
    Mar 11, 2001
    8
    Although I am a Richard Nixon fan (he let me meet him on short notice and made me an honrary agent of the law) this film gave me a new respect for the Kennedys and those 13 days. Good Film.
  10. BillM.
    Feb 11, 2001
    7
    Having lived through this time period, the attention to visual detail and the sense of place was nice. The story was mainly good because I knew it had really happened.
  11. GhetE.
    Jan 24, 2001
    9
    I found this movie to be both suspensful and entertaining. If you're not a fan of Costner, you will be after watching Thirteen Days.
  12. JackD.
    Jan 24, 2001
    6
    First Kevin Costner saved baseball..now he saves the world. Is there nothing he can't do (besides act)? Considering that you know the outcome from the start, the movie manages to keep up the suspense level. If you can distinguish the fiction from the fact, it is worth seeing.
  13. AnthonyG.
    Jan 23, 2001
    8
    A wonderful movie which keeps you interested throughout its 2 1/2 hour length.

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
67 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 31 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 23 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 31
  3. Negative: 2 out of 31
  1. Mr. Showbiz
    Reviewed by: Michael Atkinson
    65
    Assiduous, temperate, and a lot more honest about government and politicians than any other Hollywood film of the last few decades, Thirteen Days is nevertheless too little, too late.
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  2. Time
    Reviewed by: Richard Schickel
    70
    The players don't particularly look like their historical models, but they make us feel their life-threatening pain and puzzlement.
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  3. Variety
    Reviewed by: Todd McCarthy
    60
    Reasonably intelligent, well-crafted and dramatically understated.
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