Thirteen Days
Thirteen Days
In October 1962, President John F. Kennedy (Greenwood) learns about the Soviet Union's plan of placing nuclear weapons in Cuba. These weapons could wipe out most of the eastern and southern United States in minutes if they become operational. Kennedy and his advisors must come up with a plan of action against the Soviets.
Todd Dale reviewedMay 2, 2025
Solid historical drama when the world was close to World War 3. Shows how the Kennedy WH responded to the USSR placing nuclear warheads 90 miles from the USA. The movie’s taut, flat style is appropriate for a story that is more about facts and speculation than about action. Kennedy and his advisers study high-altitude photos and intelligence reports, and wonder if Khrushchev’s word can be trusted. Everything depends on what they decide. The movie shows men in unknotted ties and shirt-sleeves, grasping coffee cups or whiskey glasses and trying to sound rational while they are at some level terrified. What the Kennedy team realizes, and hopes the other side realizes, is that the real danger is that someone will strike first out of fear of striking second.