--- title: "Thirteen Days: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/thirteen-days/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/thirteen-days" critics_score: 64 critics_reviews: 9 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Thirteen Days (2000): what the critics said Critics' score 64 from 9 reviews: 5 positive, 2 mixed, 2 negative. Most critics come down in favour of Thirteen Days, and the praise gathers around the cast. Bruce Greenwood’s Kennedy is the performance singled out most often, with several reviewers calling it compelling or better, and Kevin Costner draws warm notices from some. The film itself is generally described as a gripping, intelligent reconstruction of the missile crisis, restrained in tone and careful in its handling of the arguments around the table, and admirers credit it with avoiding triumphalism. The reservations cluster on scope. More than one review notes that the film stays inside Washington and leaves out the wider diplomacy, Britain’s part in events and any women of consequence. Variety finds the presentation conventional enough to resemble expensive television. The spread is wide: two critics reject the film outright, with The AV Club judging Costner’s character superfluous and Eye for Film calling the whole thing dull and the Kennedy portrayals unconvincing. ## Empire — William Thomas Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 1 January 2000. The critic finds it a riveting, intelligent political thriller and a powerful tribute to Washington’s leaders. They single out the performances, especially Bruce Greenwood’s portrayal of JFK, for praise. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/thirteen-days-review/) ## Radio Times — Joanna Berry Rating 4/5. Berry finds the historical drama fascinating and its performances compelling. She singles out Bruce Greenwood as mesmerising and Kevin Costner as superb. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-n7aoqf/thirteen-days/) ## Evening Standard Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 10 April 2012. The critic finds the docudrama gripping and intelligently re-enacted, while noting that it is shaped by Hollywood values rather than historical hindsight. They praise its tense portrayal of the crisis and the graphic re-creation of the aerial incidents, but fault its omission of Britain’s role. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/thirteen-days-7433349.html) ## The Guardian — Philip French Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 18 March 2001. French finds the film an engrossing, restrained docu-drama that presents the crisis without triumphalism. He praises its depiction of the Kennedy brothers’ response, while noting the absence of wider diplomatic efforts and women in positions of power. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/News_Story/Critic_Review/Observer_review/0,,458550,00.html) ## Variety — Todd McCarthy Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 1 December 2000. Festival review. McCarthy finds the film a solid, absorbing historical thriller, though its conventional presentation has the feel of a high-end television production. He praises the capable ensemble and the measured handling of tense political debates. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2000/film/reviews/thirteen-days-2-1200466071/) ## The New York Times Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 25 December 2000. The page could not be accessed, so the critic’s verdict is unavailable. No specific praise or complaint can be verified from the accessible material. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2000/12/25/movies/film-review-talkin-tough-at-a-time-the-earth-stood-still.html) ## Time Out — TCh Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). The available page text does not reveal the critic’s overall verdict. Its description singles out the film’s narrow focus on Washington, especially Kenny O’Donnell’s perspective. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/thirteen-days) ## The AV Club — Keith Phipps Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 25 December 2000. Phipps finds the film handsomely mounted and well acted but ultimately constrained by its narrow focus and weak point of view. He praises Bruce Greenwood and Steven Culp, while singling out Kevin Costner’s character as superfluous. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/thirteen-days-1798192569) ## Eye for Film — Angus Wolfe Murray Fi1m's normalised score 10/100 (inferred from the text). 23 March 2001. The critic pans the film as dull and poorly made. He singles out the unconvincing portrayals of the Kennedys and Costner’s weak Boston accent. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/thirteen-days-film-review-by-angus-wolfe-murray) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/thirteen-days.md