According to FILMSARTS writer Oliver Kube, today’s TV selection is not only one of the best films starring superstar Kevin Costner, but, above all, one of the best political thrillers of all time. Because it’s extremely exciting and superbly acted and shot.
5 out of 5 stars – the highest rating! – only a very small number of film works receive official FILMSARTS reviews. Kevin Costner, who has been one of Hollywood’s greatest actors for over 40 years, has three such gems in his filmography. Almost every serious movie buff knows two of them: Oliver Stone’s JFK – Tatort Dallas and, of course, his Western epic Dances with Wolves. Tonight you will be able to watch the third masterpiece in Costner’s biography, undeservedly forgotten in comparison with the mentioned titles – and we strongly advise you to take this chance:
„Thirteen days“Takes place today, July 4, 2026, at 20:15 on 3 Saturdays. A replay follows the same night at 12:50. If you miss the dates and are willing to invest a few euros, you can switch to Blu-ray, DVD or VOD:
Thirteen Days on Amazon*
The Cuban Missile Crisis in 145 minutes
In the fall of 1962, our world was extremely close to the brink of war with the use of nuclear weapons. What would our lives be like today if there had been someone else instead of John F. Kennedy – maybe Richard Nixon or even someone like Donald Trump! – would sit in the White House – this is what we can and reluctantly imagine today.
In Thirteen Days, director Roger Donaldson (No Exit) condenses the events of nearly two weeks into an absolutely gripping film in just over two hours. Even if we all know, or at least suspect, how it will all ultimately turn out, the pressure and atmosphere in which its characters operate feels extremely authentic. The tension is almost palpable and strains the nerves of those watching – almost as much as it must have done to the real men who were to decide the prosperity and demise of the entire human race.
Even as a work of fiction, Thirteen Days could have been a compelling story. But what we see here actually happened something like this. Donaldson’s film is based on the non-fiction book The Kennedy Tapes: Inside the White House during the Cuban Missile Crisis by Ernest R. May and Philip D. Zelikow. In it, the authors processed transcribed tape recordings from the White House made during meetings of the crisis team of security advisers and military leaders around John F. Kennedy.
Book The Kennedy Tapes on Amazon*
Thirteen Days is so tense and moving because Donaldson staged it primarily as a chamber play in a few rooms in the White House. With the exception of one spectacular action, the tension comes entirely from verbal battles. As analyzed in our review, the superb ensemble is at its best in these moments.
In addition to Kevin Costner’s usual understated and precise performance, Bruce Greenwood (Double Assassination) delivers a convincing performance as John F. Kennedy, who must assert himself despite a lack of political support to prevent irreparable disaster. The real surprise, however, is the still relatively unknown Steven Culp (“Bosch,” “Desperate Housewives”), who embodies Secretary of the Interior Robert F. Kennedy with enormous charisma.
Thirteen Days, released in 2000/2001, is an immersive film experience. Even though the real-life events took place many years before most of us were born, watching the thriller drama almost feels like you’ve been there.
This is the story of “Thirteen Days”.
October 1962 – The Cold War is at its peak. When the US government learns that the Soviet Union wants to place intermediate-range missiles in Cuba, the political arm-wrestling escalates. American President John F. Kennedy (Bruce Greenwood) is forced to act, but is unwilling to give up his democratic ideals.
His military leaders (including Bill Smitrovich, Kevin Conway and Ed Lauter) deeply distrust what they consider to be an overly “soft” head of state. They insist on destroying the weapons with an airstrike and then invading Cuba. With the outbreak of World War III looming, Kennedy will soon only be able to truly trust his brother, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy (Steven Culp), and his closest adviser and old friend, Kenneth O’Donnell (Kevin Costner)…
The film, which will be released in US theaters in August 2026, fits this theme very well, and we would like to introduce it to you in the following article, including the trailer:
Gorbachev and Reagan in the Cold War: trailer for the star-studded historical thriller “On the Brink of War”
Our site offers you the latest news about films, TV series and television every day. Add FILMSARTS as your preferred source on Google.so that our articles appear there more often if you are looking for a specific topic, and you will always be up to date with the latest developments.
*Links to Amazon offers are so-called affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, we receive a commission. This does not affect the price.