John F. Kennedy's Thirteen Days

Shown through the eyes of presidential aide Kenneth P. O'Donnell (Kevin Costner), we see the inner workings of President John F. Kennedy (Bruce Greenwood) and his closest advisors as they try and find the best way to end a potentially devastating showdown with the U.S.S.R. In October of 1962, the U.S., during a regular mission photographing Cuba, spotted a missile buildup by the Russians. The missiles were powerful enough to kill 80 million Americans with only 5 minutes of warning time. President Kennedy had to decide quickly what action to take. With his trusted aide Kenny O'Donnell and his brother Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy (Steven Culp), and others such as Robert McNamara, Adlai Stevenson, McGeorge Bundy, Dean Acheson, Dean Rusk and many more, Kennedy needed to figure out the best course of action. If he allowed the Russians to aim these missiles at the U.S., the United States would be placed in a potentially deadly situation. If Kennedy allowed the military to attack the missiles and destroy them, what would Russia do as a response? If he waited too long, would

The not-yet-operational missiles on Cuban soil, the inexorably ticking clock as they move toward operability. The potential U.S. air strikes that could eliminate most, but not necessarily all, of the threat the risk of a retaliatory Soviet strike to Berlin, and the spiraling consequences that could result the U.S. missiles in Turkey, and the political impossibility of a quid pro quo agreement. Thirteen Days makes it all not merely comprehensible, but gripping.

Thirteen Days is a fitting dramatic tribute to the deadly brinksmanship that pulled audience back from the edge during the most volatile two weeks of the Cold War. We as the audience of Thirteen Days thought this film was a great historical