That night, a group of militants from Ansar al-Sharia assault the compound. What happened next is ready-made for an action movie: The six operators disobeyed Bobs orders and raced to the compound to rescue their fellow Americans. "I never knew that until I read the book and talk to these guys.". "We were never given the OK to go," says Kris Paronto. Who was to blame for the debacle? "We knew to get out of there we were going to have to depend on each other, kill them before they kill you," he told "Nightline.". A firefight began, and 10 minutes later, the first wave was repelled. Well, I'm sorry. They loaded guns and body armor into a waiting armored car as they watched flames rise from the nearby outpost. The State Department later admitted the Benghazi outpost was "woefully" under secured. The U.S. Consulate the day after the attack. "[61], Also disputed is the film's portrayal that air support was denied. Yes. Many Libyans are in shock following the murder of one of Libya's most prominent human rights activists, killed at her home on the day of country's general election . It cost the lives of Sean Smith and Ambassador Stevens, Tiegen said. The second and third attacks occurred at a nearby CIA compound. It focuses on a team of six military contractors who happened to be stationed at the CIA base when the fighting broke out. They arrived to find Stevens missing and officer Sean Smith dead from smoke inhalation. The incident continued to generate controversy, however, as various congressional committees conducted their own investigations; the final investigative report on the attacks was released nearly four years later, in the summer of 2016. Paronto posted several photos from his time in Benghazi as well as photos of the flag-draped coffins of Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty. Bob said he was familiar with the contents. A House Armed Services Committee report found that air support was unavailable or that it would have arrived too late to make a difference.[51]. On February 10, 2014, it was announced that Paramount Pictures was in talks with 3 Arts Entertainment to acquire the film rights to the book 13 Hours, written by Mitchell Zuckoff, with Erwin Stoff to produce. The men made the journey to the outpost by car, then approached on foot. As the team prepared to return to the Annex, with Smiths body in the trunk of their car, the compound came under fire again. [27], Unusual for a major American film, the film was given only a limited release in Canada during its American wide opening weekend, playing in select theatres in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary and Ottawa. The Libyans, who had been guarding it, quickly melted away. By the time rescuers arrived, Smith had died of asphyxiation, and Stevens could not be found in the heavy smoke before the rescue team was driven out. . It appears that Stevens got separated from Diplomat Sean Smith and DS Agent Scott Wickland inside the main consulate building after an attacker's rocket-propelled grenade started a fire. The first shots exploded around 9:40 p.m. On Sept. 11, 2012, a group of local fighters, AK-47s in hand, burst through the fortified front gate of a US outpost in Benghazi, Libya. [46] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale. Four Americans died in the 2012 Benghazi attack: Ambassador Chris Stevens, Information Officer Sean Smith,[1] and two CIA operatives,[2] Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods,[3][4] both former Navy SEALs. What remains true to real events is the willingness of the operators to risk their own lives to save others, particularly when they charged into the compound with no idea what awaited them. And that was just a prelude to the really hairy stuff, an Alamo-like stand against unseen enemies raining bullets, RPGs, and eventually mortar shells on the besieged Americans. ", "Hollywood Benghazi film sparks controversy inside Libya", "Angry Libyans slam Michael Bay's Benghazi attack thriller", "Hollywood Benghazi film sparking anger inside Libya", " ", "La La Land equals record for most Oscar nominations", "Michael Bay's 13 Hours promotes some of the worst Benghazi conspiracy theories", "13 Hours: Of Course There's Evidence of a 'Stand-Down Order' in Benghazi", "New Benghazi movie reignites 'stand-down' order debate", "AP FACT CHECK: Benghazi movie misstates some facts", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=13_Hours:_The_Secret_Soldiers_of_Benghazi&oldid=1143431990, Films about the Central Intelligence Agency, Short description is different from Wikidata, Official website different in Wikidata and Wikipedia, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Shane Rowe as CIA Annex Cook, who participates in the defense of the Annex, Gbor Bodis as CIA Agent, a security officer, This page was last edited on 7 March 2023, at 17:56. The Annex staff was ultimately evacuated to the airport and out of the country with the help of a Libyan militia. [38] The film added 528 theaters in its second weekend and grossed $9 million, a 39.8% drop. [13] Max Martini was cast as another member of the security team on February 17, 2015. Hillary Clinton has accepted responsibility for not arranging for better security in Libya, though she and the rest of the Obama administration have denied intentionally misleading the public in the days after the attack. All were retired U.S. military veterans. They were ready for battlejocked up, they call itwithin minutes. The movie debuts at a politically charged moment. No one has talked about those 13 hours and what happened.. Soon afterward, local Libyan militias friendly to the United States arrived to escort the remaining Americans to the airport. We've just lost half our team." What happened in between is covered in 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi, a new film from Transformers director Michael Bay in theaters Friday. This included screening the film for key Republican Party figures in order to generate endorsement quotations. More attacks followed before dawn broke. Yes. [30] In November 2012, senior U.S. intelligence officials said that Woods and Doherty were actually CIA contractors, not State Department security officers as had been previously reported,[31] and that the two men, together with other CIA security officers, played a pivotal role in defending the besieged US Special Mission in Benghazi. We can get into semantics but stand down was said credit to the movie that they believed what we were saying and they put it in the movie.. The first shots exploded around 9:40 p.m. On Sept. 11, 2012, a group of local fighters, AK-47s in hand, burst through the fortified front gate of a US outpost in Benghazi, Libya. Hes one of two former Navy SEALs on the team. "The responsibility of getting this story right was the highest priority for all of us," says Krasinski, who was previously known for his role in the TV comedy The Office, "and because it's such a politicized issue and because it's such an intense story, the only way to do it is to go right to the source, so getting all that information for him and getting to know him was the most important thing. Updates? The two are stopped in the streets by a group of militants. ), And then they were held up at the annex for 20 minutes, under orders from the CIA station chief, whom Zuckoff identifies only as Bob.. I called for air support. To prepare for his role of Jack Silva, John Krasinski dropped from 25% to 8% body fat. Likely due to a boost from the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election, the film made $40 million in DVD and Blu-ray sales by August 2016. 13 Hours focuses on the six private security operators who were based in the annex. Zuckoff met repeatedly with, and grew close to, the five security operators: Mark "Oz" Geist, Kris "Tanto" Paroto, John "Tig" Tiegen, and two who asked to be identified by pseudonyms and appear in the book as Jack Silva and Dave "D.B." Benton. No one will mistake this movie for a documentary," the statement continued. Thats who killed the ambassador.. The identity of the real Jack Da Silva is not known. The site's consensus reads, "13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi is a comparatively mature and restrained effort from Michael Bay, albeit one that can't quite boast the impact its fact-based story deserves. While the film was praised for its acting performances, action sequences, and dark tone, the script was criticized for its historical liberties. It was just you couldn't even see the end of the barrel of the weapon with the flashlight on.. 'Jack' was a true gentleman who told me, 'Ask any questions, because I want to get this story out, and I want it told right.' Starring John Krasinski, James Badge Dale, Pablo Schreiber |, Copyright 2023 HistoryvsHollywood.com, CTF Media. We hired the brightest minds from Harvard and Yale to do their work, the chief tells the contractors on duty. Tiegen climbed to a rooftop and killed a man aiming a rocket-propelled grenade launcher at one of the buildings. [57] However, Greg P. Russell (one of the four nominees from the film) had his nomination rescinded when it was discovered that he had contacted voters for the award by telephone in violation of campaigning regulations. Consulate attacked. Bay's direction also received a mixed response, with many criticizing his emphasis on over-the-top action, but some also noting it as one of his most mature and grounded films. Stevens was later recovered by local Libyans and taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The release of 13 Hours will re-start the conversation over Benghazi and introduce a whole new audience to the events of that night, Brian O. Walsh, President of Future45, told CNN. From left, Bay, Mark Oz Geist, Author Mitchell Zuckoff and John Tig Tiegen on the set of 13 Hours.. [13] In August 2013, CNN reported that seven Americans were wounded, some seriously. You have reached your limit of free articles. Though she was largely considered to have vindicated herself in a hearing in a House hearing in October, Republicans may very well try to use Benghazi again in the coming months. The movie, "13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi," is based on a book co-written by U.S. contractors hired to protect the CIA base in Benghazi. Thats just the truth. You know who I hold accountable is al-Sharia, he said. The men who were there say the movie made them miss their life in Libya, and want to return. [20], A Roman Catholic, Doherty was a member of the advisory board of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, an organization that opposes proselytizing by religious groups in the United States military. All Rights Reserved. Director Michael Bay Writers Chuck Hogan Mitchell Zuckoff Stars John Krasinski Pablo Schreiber James Badge Dale See production, box office & company info Watch on Paramount+ with Prime Video Channels More watch options Films can be used as powerful political weapons - and director Michael Bay's latest film, 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi, is a case in point . The new movie "13 Hours" tells the story of the 2012 attack on the US diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya. 13 Hours also received many mixed reviews from critics. There were two compounds. For his safety." There were a lot of different ways to support their families. It never came, says another. [49] Like Roeper's review, New York Daily News' Joe Dziemianowicz was less receptive toward the script, but applauded the film's focus on the real-life attack, summarizing: "War is gritty here, not glamorous [Michael Bay] delivers a gripping, harrowing, and heartfelt film. If the truth of it affects someone's political career? They were gassed up and ready to go, but for mysterious and presumably nefarious reasons werent sent in to rescue the besieged Americans. The identity of the real Jack Da Silva is not known. The team fought back. Known colloquially as "the Benghazi movie,"[7] the film was released on January 15, 2016, by Paramount Pictures. Mark 'Oz' Geist's left arm was almost completely blown apart, but he kept shooting. By Eric Eisenberg. [38], Woods was portrayed by actor James Badge Dale in the 2016 film 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi. But these are also guys with a tremendous sense of duty, who take great pride in service. Flashed images of top brass at home show us just who didnt send helpeven though little top-down wrongdoing is claimed in the film. I know a guy, said the middle-aged trainer across the table from me. 2016 biographical action-thriller film directed by Michael Bay, "13 Hours (film)" redirects here. By itself, that couldve been a conversation killer. Stand down!. With 13 Hours opening this week, starring MH cover guy John Krasinski, its important to forget the politics and focus on the people caught in the firestorm. While congressional reports say that didnt happen, the men say the crucial delay, about 20 minutes, crippled their rescue mission. "I thought they were vaporized in front of my eyes," says Kris Paronto. The movie is an adaptation of Mitchell Zuckoff's 2014 book "13 Hours: The Inside Account of What Really Happened in Benghazi," which recounts the battle from the perspective of a group of Central. (Check out Everyday Heroes for more inspiring, kickass stories about people that are making a difference in this world. The film stars James Badge Dale, John Krasinski, Pablo Schreiber, Max Martini, David Denman and Dominic Fumusa, with supporting roles by Toby Stephens, Alexia Barlier and David Costabile. At 9:42 p.m. on Sept. 11, 2012, the security team got a call that Stevens security team needed help. Sept. 11, 2012 Benghazi, Libya: The CIA had set up an annex near an American diplomatic compound and, after their remembrances of Sept. 11, 2001, the men and women of these facilities went about their daily tasks. John Krasinski plays Jack Silva, an alias for another one of the contractors guarding the annex when the diplomatic compound came under attack. [58] However, no help was sent even though officials at the highest levels had found out about the attack within the first few hours out of the 13. Former Navy SEAL Tyrone Woods and former Marine Glenn Dougherty were both killed in action. 13 Hours is likely to be much more popular among conservatives than among the audiences Clinton is trying to woo in the Democratic primary. Despite repeated calls for air support, none ever came. 'Secret Soldiers of Benghazi' Discuss Real-Life Events Behind '13 Hours', Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. You do kick into a primal, very instinctual place where you're not thinking about acting or what you look like on camera, he said. During the 42-year dictatorship of Muammar Gaddafi, Benghazi was more isolated, impoverished, and oppressed as well. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. [7] Senior intelligence officials later acknowledged that Woods and Doherty were contracted by the Central Intelligence Agency, not the State Department as previously identified,[8] and were part of Global Response Staff (GRS), a team that provides security to CIA case officers and countersurveillance and surveillance protection. Silva and Woods enter the building searching for Stevens and Smith but find only Smith's body. Krasinski plays Jack Silva (a pseudonym used because the person he's based on chooses not to be publicly identified), a muscular 38-year-old with a wife and two sons back in the states. John Christopher StevensApril 18, 1960 Grass Valley, California, U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens. That was getting lost in the politics of it all.. The CIA base was protected: 6 elite ex-military operators. Everythings dull when you get back to the States., Director Michael Bay and Pablo Schreiber on the set of 13 Hours.. In the film's most controversial scene, the CIA chief in Benghazi (identified only as "Bob") tells the military contractors there when they seek permission to go defend the embassy to "stand down" and thus denies them permission. Bay, known for his movies "Transformers" and "Armageddon," said he was drawn to the story of unsung heroes. That was getting lost in the politics of it all.. Closing titles reveal that all of the surviving members of the Annex security GRS team received contractor medals at a private ceremony, have since retired from the GRS team, and live with their families and that Geist was able to save his arm after several surgeries after re-enlisting. Woods graduated from Oregon City High School in 1989,[27] south of Portland, Oregon, and served 21 years of honorable service in the U.S. Navy before joining the State Department Diplomatic Security Service[28] as a U.S. embassy security operative,[4] ostensibly working under a service contract. Check out his new book Strong: Nine Workout Programs for Women to Burn Fat, Boost Metabolism, and Build Strength for Life, with coauthor Alwyn Cosgrove. But while many of Clinton's enemies use Benghazi to hold her accountable, Geist has his own perspective. [54] Libya's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Salah Belnaba, denounced the film's portrayal of the Libyan people and described it as "fanatical and ignorant. When militants breached the walls of the State Department compound the night of September 11, the security team didnt hesitate. The former Navy SEAL is portrayed by John Krasinski in the 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi movie. [35], The film was projected to earn around $20 million in its four-day Martin Luther King weekend debut. Friday is not only a day for solemn memorials for the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks but it's also the somber anniversary of the Benghazi attack that killed four Americans. (The phrase isnt literal; Silva didnt take the time to put on underwear, a rare case of a commando actually going commando. Tiegen was never under fire when he went up the ladder, or the whole time he was on the roof treating the four down Americans. The former Navy SEAL is portrayed by John Krasinski in the 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi movie. 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