Synopsis
Director Roger Donaldson teams up with star Kevin Costner for another political thriller (after their 1987 pairing, No Way Out), only this time with a film based on the actual events surrounding the Cuban missile crisis of 1962, taking place during the titular thirteen days wherein the U.S. and the Soviet Union nearly engaged in full-scale nuclear war. After President John F. Kennedy (Bruce Greenwood) is shown photographs from a spy plane detailing the presence of missiles in Cuba capable of obliterating massive areas of the U.S., he must immediately decide the most effective course of action for the country. With the aid of best friend and special assistant Kenny O'Donnell (Kevin Costner) and brother Robert (Steven Culp), the President must avoid a dire chain of events that could be dictated by General Curtis LeMay (Kevin Conway), who would rather take immediate action and invade Cuba. After initial reticence about leaking the information to the nation, President Kennedy eventually tells of the conflict, leading to widespread panic and a blockade of Cuba. With the aid of Robert McNamara (Dylan Baker) and Adlai Stevenson (Michael Fairman), the leaders must find a way to alleviate the tension of the situation. Thirteen Days also features Walter Adrian as Lyndon Johnson.
What Critics Say
The Kennedy boys' desperate efforts to prevent nuclear war during the Cuban Missile Crisis make for one of the most gripping political/military thrillers in years.
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Movie News
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'Thirteen Days' Pushed Back
HOLLYWOOD, Dec. 5, 2000 -- Most of the country will have to wait 21 more days to see “Thirteen Days.”
New Line Cinema has pushed back the wide release of Kevin Costner’s historical drama by nearly a month to avoid the high-profile competition it would have gone up against on its original launch date, Dec. 22.
"Days" will now be released on the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend, Jan. 12, Variety reports. The film will instead get a limited release Dec. 22 in New York and Los Angeles for Oscar consideration.
The Cuban Missile Crisis thriller still faces tough competition on Jan. 12 by films such as “Traffic” with Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, “Finding Forrester” with Sean Connery, “Antitrust” with Ryan Phillippe and Tim Robbins, Disney’s action comedy “Double Take” with Orlando Jones, and “O Brother, Where Art Though?” starring George Clooney.
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"Thirteen Days" for peace
The political drama Thirteen Days has become a symbol of peace.
The film will bring together old enemies when it premieres this week in Cuba and Russia, two of the three major players during the tense 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.