It seems that Kevin Costner's stock has been down lately. He's definitely not the box office star he used to be. The truth is, I've never been a huge fan of his acting ability, but I've always admired his choices Like Harrison Ford, Costner's greatest attribute has always been his keen eye on picking strong projects. The Untouchables, Field of Dreams, Bull Durham etc. As of late, that's not something he's been able to do. Thirteen Days should mark a return to form for the actor.

Thirteen Days chronicles the gut wrenching, turbulent hours leading to the dreaded Cuban Missile Crisis, and intensely displays how close we actually came to going to war. During those terrifying days, President Kennedy (Bruce Greenwood) was required to make some tough choices with the help of his brother Robert (Steven Culp) and personal advisor Kenny O'Donnell (Costner).

Costner is no stranger to the world of movie politics (he was in Oliver Stone's JFK) and he's quite strong here, that is, if you can get through that rather intrusive accent he affects. Although Greenwood hardly resembles JFK, he masterfully captures the legendary President's mannerisms making for one of the film's best performances. Culp is a dead ringer for Robert Kennedy and he manages to humanize the man that many thought was ruthless. The rest of the supporting cast is equally effective, most notably Dylan Baker as Defense Secretary Robert McNamara.

Director Roger Donaldson has easily fashioned his best work since No Way Out (a fantastic political thriller also starring Kevin Costner). He has managed to make an intense action thriller with virtually no explosions or car chases. He has also captured the flavor of the times. I also love the fact that Donaldson really pays attention to character in this film, rather than just the overall situation. Throughout the film, we see O'Donnell not only as the Kennedys' good friend, but as a sort of pep talker as well. That was part of the mans job. When morale is low, O'Donnell would pump it up, and that really shows. Donaldson also allows the audience to see the true stress and strain that comes with being the President. As Kennedy is forced to make certain decisions, you can almost feel his heart beating faster.

A lot of credit should go to writer David Self for the way he infuses humanity into these characters. This is an insightful and intimate look into the Kennedy administration. The film does have it's obvious, overly sentimental moments such as a scene towards the end of the movie in which Costner breaks down at the breakfast table with his family. On the other hand, this is a character that never has much of a chance for emotional release.

Thirteen Days is a long film, but it's always riveting and flowing with information. And even though we as Americans know the outcome, it's scary to see what might have been. Thirteen Days is one of the year's best films.