This is a 2016 American biographical action-thriller film directed and produced by Michael Bay and written by Chuck Hogan; based on Mitchell Zuckoff's 2014 book of the same name. The film follows six members of the Annex Security Team who fought to defend the American diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya after waves of attacks by militants on September 11, 2012. In 2012, following the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi, Benghazi in Libya is named one of the most dangerous places in the world, and countries have pulled their diplomatic offices out of the country in fear of an attack by militants. The United States still has a diplomatic compound, not an official consulate, open in the city. Less than a mile away is a top secret CIA base, "the Annex," which is protected by a team of private military contractors from Global Response Staff (GRS). New to the detail is former US Navy SEAL Jack Silva, who arrives in Benghazi and is picked up by fellow former US Navy SEAL Tyrone "Rone" Woods, the commander of the GRS team and a personal friend of Silva. Arriving at the Annex, Silva is introduced to the rest of the GRS team: former US Marines Mark "Oz" Geist, John "Tig" Tiegen and Dave "Boon" Benton and former US Army Ranger Kris "Tanto" Paronto and the CIA Chief of Station, "Bob", who constantly gives the team strict reminders to never engage the citizens. Lavish Michael Bay production with all-star cast recreating in cruel detail the Mogadishu battle. This is an accurate portrayal, second-by-second , of the blood battle of Bengasi. During an attack on a U. S. compound in Libya, a security team struggles to make sense out of the chaos. In 2012, the threat level in
Benghazi, Libya was deemed "critical". When everything went wrong, six men had the courage to do what was right. When everything went wrong six men had the courage to do what was right. That night, a group of militants from Ansar al-Sharia assault the compound. The 17-Feb guards are quickly overrun, which allows the attackers easy access to the compound. Wickland takes Stevens and Smith, an IT specialist, to the safe room. Unable to breach the safe room, the attackers set the building on fire hoping to burn the men out. Wickland escapes but loses both Stevens and Smith. At the Annex, the GRS team desperately wants to go to the compound to help, but the Chief refuses for fear that the team's departure would expose the Annex.
Michael Bay helped immeasurably by superb cameraman Dion Beebe and an excellent creative team has created the ultimate vision of war as hell on earth, a nightmarish firefight. Stirring and emotion of the film is aided by an exciting musical score by Lorne Balfe . Conventional elements in the screenplay as heroism, comradeship, are based on a story devoid of sentimentality and balanced by a genuinely complex examination of courage in the field . It is overpowered by one of the most relentlessly and realistic harrowing war action . Cast is pretty good , such as : John Krasinski , James Badge Dale, Pablo Schreiber , David Denman , Dominic Fumusa , Max Martini and Toby Stephens. Filming began on April 27, 2015, in Malta and Morocco. Known colloquially as "the Benghazi movie,"the film was released on January 15, 2016, by Paramount Pictures. Upon release, 13 Hours grossed $69 million worldwide against a production budget of $50 million (not including advertising and distribution), and became one of Bay's lowest-grossing films until the 2022 release of Ambulance. 13 Hours also received many mixed reviews from critics. While the film was praised for its acting performances, action sequences, and dark tone, the script was criticized for its historical liberties. Bay's direction also received a mixed response, with many criticizing his emphasis on over-the-top action, but some also noting it as one of his most mature and grounded films. The film received an Oscar nomination for Best Sound Mixing at the 89th Academy Awards.
