13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi

 

"What can I do?" "Get some F-16's to put the fear of God and the United States of America into them."

A major part of Michael Bay's signature style and quite possibly a part of his successful formula is his fervent desire to lionise the doers in his films. The cops of Bad Boys refusing to give up, the blue-collar spirit of Armageddon's drillers, the motive of Ed Harris' villain from The Rock, the never-give-up spirit of the Transformers, or the gung-ho can-do attitude of military and police officers in all his films, who are often portrayed or advised by real military officers. 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi puts the spirit of action-over-diplomacy as a mission statement wherein covert military contractors are assigned to protect a CIA outpost and a nearby American embassy when angry militia groups in the politically turbulent city of Benghazi, Libya attack in the wake of Muammar Gaddafi's death. In 2012, Benghazi is overrun by militia gangs battling for control on the post-Gaddafi powstarcuum, ex-Navy Seal Jack Da Silva (Kransinski) lands in Bengazhi and as he is being eyed up by the local populace he meets up with his friend and team leader Tyrone "Rone" Woods (Badge Dale) who, after a tense stand-off in a militia road-checkpoint, introduces him to the small team of military contractors and CIA personnel all under the authority of "The Chief" (David Constabile of TV's Breaking Bad). The Chief and Rone are at constant odds with Rone demanding actions and escalations of security with the Chief demanding the Americans maintain a low profile. This all comes to a head when the nearby residence of US Ambassador Stevens is attacked and Rone demands his team be dispatched to protect their countrymen.

It's painfully clear how earnest and personal this film is for Bay, and it shows as one of his more mature and restrained movies. While visually and thematically the film borrows heavily from (and even explicitly mentions) Ridley Scott's Black Hawk Down, there is enough of the positive and negative sides of Bayhem on show. The film wastes little time throwing Silva and Rone into a tense stand-off minutes in with the first lines of dialogue being no-nonsense military banter regarding weaponry and tactics. Much of the dialogue is fast-paced and jargon-filled, and little time is is spent on the political dynamics on moral motivations behind the American presence there, or even on the mind-set of the Benghazi people. Instead the majority of characters are one-dimensional and exist as little beyond their jobs and the people of Benghazi are either by-standers, hidden foes or questionable friends. Often the concept of the hidden threat and shady allegiances is used to surprisingly effective degree, but this only comes into question about an hour into the film. Up until this point 13 Hours is a slog of poorly mixed dialogue, doers-versus-thinkers headbutting and action-espionage, but when the action kicks off Bay hits his stride.

By this point it's worth mentioning that 13 Hours is not a film for the mainstream, it's a passion-project with no real lead star about a politically complex and unpopular incident. This is a film made for the US military, it's fans and fans of war-action in general and this is the bread-and-butter of Bay's film-making. While he's most often derided for his unrestrained, high-octane,cluttered, and at times incomprehensible action-style with heavy effects in 13 Hours it works wonders. The action scenes are chaotic, but the protagonists move through it with order and purpose, with bystanders and potential foes and friends leaping out of the dark, bushes and through fire. With little CGI Bay and cinematographer Dion Beebe (Edge of Tomorrow, Memoirs of a Geisha, Collatoral) use a vast array of visual styles to create an exceptional warzone. And the usually indulgent and intrusive aspects of Bay's visual style really pay off here such as perspective shots from guns, documentary-style night-vision filters, Bay's beloved helicopter shots, plenty of hand-held and steadi-cam, unmotivated lights, low angles, fast-paced tracking shots, telephoto lenses, the time of the day constantly changing, smoke, dust, blood, sweat and dirt just look and feel great. It's visceral, engaging and at times immersive. It works, the fights don't feel epic they feel efficient, brutal, enhanced but certainly the grit and uncertainty of reality is present. Bay and Beebe also have a strong eye for some beautiful colour and composition, it's not rife with meaning but it's technically beautiful.

13 Hours is a strange beast. It's Michael Bay's most restrained film by a certain degree, but at the same time it's exactly as trashy (in terms of narrative and character) with unintelligible dialogue (see J. J. Abrams Star Wars and Star Trek to see a good version of this kind of dialogue) and it's made to directly appease a niche audience but teach nothing new or give any depth they didn't already feel. But at the same time it's one of the best depictions of war-combat in recent times, the action is engrossing and tense all the way through the film's almost egregious running time. If you like good gunfights and want to see more John Kransinski, maybe this is the film for you.

Mark Reviews: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Just as I was about to go see TMNT, I got this review in my inbox from our good friend Mark Wahlberg, so there's one less movie I have to review. - Jack

Hey everyone I'm back and I got all new thoughts on a movie I saw. A few days ago, my mom called and said that she's missing me and Donnie. So I packed Donnie's backpack and we flew out to Boston to see the family.

After a dinner at our family's restaurant Wahlburgers (19 Shipyard Drive, Hingham, MA, if you're in the Boston area check it out and tell my brother Paulie I sent you), Donnie really wanted to go see this movie about turtles or something and I told Ma I'd take him, even though I knew he'd get tired and fall asleep.

First of all I'm pissed off that Michael Bay didn't put me in this movie. I could have played like Will Arnett's character or a turtle (or all four because I'm that good). I thought we had it good Michael, you already put me in two movies.

I'm so good I can play my own son

Anyway, Donnie fell asleep like I thought he would and I got really bored. Something about ninjas attacking New York (which I totally would have stopped if I was there) and the fact that these things are supposed to look like turtles. Whoever made this movie has never seen a turtle. I have to feed Donnie's pet turtles all the time so I know what they look like.

I suppose that Megan Fox is pretty good to look at, so it was a total waste. And that Johnny Knoxville can be pretty funny, but I really did want to see him fall down some stairs or get hit with a golf club.

So, I guess if you like looking at big monsters pretending to look like turtles or like falling asleep, you're gonna love this one. The weirdest part is that Donnie knew the exact parts of the movie he liked even though he was asleep during them. I gotta stop taking my brother to the movies.

Celebrity Guest Reviewer: Mark Wahlberg - Transformers: Age of Extinction

Hi guys, so neither Edward nor I wanted to review the latest Transformers movie. Lucky for us we have a very special guest to come in and give the most impartial review I'm sure he can give under the circumstances. So over to Mark.

Hey, how you guys doing? You doing good? I'm Mark Wahlberg, but hey you knew that already. What, you don't know who I am? Psh. That's your last chance and you only get one. Oh yeah, they told me I couldn't fucking swear in this review, but fuck that. You know why? Because I'm Mark fucking Wahlberg.

So I guess many of you are saying, 'Hey Mark, why are you in the Transformers movie? You're like a proper actor.' First, I know I'm a good actor. Remember when I said I'd be a star in Boogie Nights? Well here I am. But to answer your question, when the last movie came out I was walking Donnie on Hollywood Boulevard and he asked me when I was going to be in a Transformers movie. And I was like 'Shut up Donnie or I'll hit you again.' That was his last chance by the way.

But that did get me thinking I should be in a Transformers movie. You know why? I'm Mark fucking Wahlberg. So I went Michael Bay and was all like I'll be in your movie, just as long as you get someone to look after Donnie while I go away and fight some robots.

The first thing about this movie that I didn't like is that I'm supposed to be some weedy inventor guy. No one will believe that. Look at this picture.

Do I look like some kind of nerd who looks like he invents things to you? No. I look like I could punch your teeth in like I did to Donnie last Thanksgiving when he spoke back to me.

Another thing, they told me I was going to be the star of this movie, but then they kept talking about this Optimus Prime guy. Who the fuck is that and why does he get more screen time than me. I'm the star and I'm a star. Anyway, fuck that guy, I get to shoot a huge gun in this movie and run around all over the world. There are some other people in this movie, but they're not as good as me.

Verdict: Yeah this movie's pretty good. Only because I'm in it. The rest is pretty shit. It's just a bunch of robots and explosions. Now I gotta go pick up Donnie. And guess what? You're welcome.

Oh yeah, I only measure things in good vibrations.

Pain & Gain

Michael Bay and his production company Platinum Dunes have been much derided in past years for his Transformers movies and remakes of classic 80s movies (which I'm not ashamed to admit that I enjoy). But Pain & Gain is different. I think it shows that Bay is a talented director, who just needs to put a little more effort into his work.

The movie follows the unbelievably true story of three Miami bodybuilders, who in the mid-90s extorted one wealthy businessman and killed a porn magnate and his girlfriend. Daniel Lugo (Mark Wahlberg) is a lowly gym employee with dreams of greatness. He convinces fellow colleagues Adrian Doorbal (Anthony Mackie) and Paul Doyle (Dwayne Johnson) to help kidnap corrupt businessman Victor Kershaw (Tony Shalhoub) and extort him of his wealth. Soon things start to unravel when greed, addiction and desperation get in the way.

With all the action that is going on in this film, it is hard to believe that this film is based on a true story. But it reminds throughout the film when it occasionally breaks the fourth wall, though only in subtle ways. There was an interesting direction of giving all the main characters a voice over piece at some stage in the film, but it was cool to see the inner workings of these characters.

Mark Wahlberg has always interested me as an actor, taking varied roles in movies (sort of like Nic Cage). His take on muscle-head Danny Lugo is humourous at some points and from the articles that I've been reading, pretty close to the actual guy.

Anthony Mackie has been off my radar and apart from The Hurt Locker, this is the only other film I've seen him in. I feel as though his character just got swept up in Danny's can-do attitude.

Fans of the Rock may be surprised to see a different side to the man. Dwayne Johnson plays an ex-con who finds religion in a big bad way, but soon reverts to his pre-prison days. Johnson really conveys the pain felt by his character when he has his crises of faith.

The techniques picked up by Bay on the Transformers movies really pays off. He knows how to use a camera and constantly uses excited angles and slow and fast motion to convey the action when it happens. All this with the beautiful surroundings of Miami make for a cool movie.

Verdict: Mark Wahlberg and Michael Bay make a refreshing team-up. If you like the 90s, you'll probably like this movie. Most of all, be a do-er, not a don't-er.