How we arrived at our grades...

As I was toddling around in my baby walker, the rest of the world was teetering on the brink of its very existence. Obviously I have no direct recollections of those days in the fall of 1962, although I have since become aptly aware of "just how close we came," as the tagline of this movie says.

Chock full of dialogue, Thirteen Days still keeps an unrelenting grip on your attention by telling the story of the Cuban Missile Crisis through the eyes of Kenny O'Donnell (Kevin Costner). Presidential aide and right hand man to John F. Kennedy (Bruce Greenwood), he observed the innermost moments of the decision making process the between the president and his brother, Attorney General Robert Kennedy (Stephen Culp).

With reconnaissance pictures clearly showing the presence of medium range missiles being installed in Cuba, President Kennedy had few choices. The most obvious was to go in with force and attack the island--a full invasion and the favored option of Kennedy's military aides. But certainly this decision would ignite retaliation from the USSR, with global nuclear war the very likely result. Fortunately Kennedy saw another option that involved diplomacy, a firm resolve, and the most precious commodity of all--time.

Even though we know how the story ends, watching the events unfold that led Kennedy to enact a blockade on all USSR ships bound for Cuba, was a riveting emotional experience. The inclusion of many profanities and terms of Deity are the movie's only shortcoming. While it is probable a few coarse words were uttered in those back rooms, most of the "private" dialogue in this movie is dramatized, and could have been scripted to allow this movie to find its way into more homes and schools.

Political historians note that Thirteen Days does use artistic license, especially in the role of Kenny O'Donnell. However, everyone agrees the movie is still very effective at providing a sense of just how serious this situation was. If you want more information, check the film's very educational website at www.thirteen-days.com.

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This movie provides an excellent educational resource at www.thirteen-days.com. Harvard University also provides a very interesting site where historians actually point out the fact from the fiction in this film, and provide countless other details and resources relating to the Cuban Missile Crisis. This site is located at http://208.171.240.9/13days/

Another short page http://www.annenberg.nwu.edu/pubs/pres/pres4a.htm looks at how the network television news we have available today may have altered the course of events in October 1962.

A fictional view of an impending nuclear incident is available in the political thriller Hunt for Red October.

Rod Gustafson

© 2001 One Voice Communications. All Rights Reserved

Making The Grades...

The MPAA rated Thirteen Days PG-13 for brief strong language.

Overall: B+
Aside from the profanity, this movie clearly illustrates to future generations the dangers of conflict and nuclear war. Religion is positively depicted. It also illustrates how poor communications can lead to disastrous results.

Violence: B-
Besides the tension of the crisis including heated moments in meetings and the theme of war, we see one plane get shot with no injuries, while another plane is hit by a missile resulting in the death of the pilot.

Sexual Content: A
Married relationships are shown between loving and caring spouses.

Language: D+
At least 1 extreme profanity (sexual expletive), 18 moderate profanities, 22 mild profanities, and 19 terms of Deity used as expletives or profanities.

Alcohol / Drug Use: B-
Typical for this era, many people smoke cigarettes. Social drinking, and drinking during a couple of very tense moments.

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