'13 Hours': Benghazi Without Politics

"13 Hours: The Secret Soliders of Benghazi" opens in theaters this week. Michael Bay's new movie about the September 11, 2012 attacks in Benghazi, Libya is most definitely not a movie about the Congressional myths of Benghazi. It's the straightforward and moving story of six veterans working as civilian security contractors for the CIA who first tried to rescue Ambassador Christopher Stevens from the American consulate and later successfully defended the secret CIA compound from persistent attack.

Former Marines Mark "Oz" Geist and John "Tig" Tiegen and former Army Ranger Kris "Tanto" Paronto have publicly come forward since the attacks and they served as military advisors for Bay's movie. Max Martini, Dominic Fumusa and Pablo Schreiber play the three veterans in 13 Hours and they're joined by John Krasinki and James Badge Dale as former Navy SEAL contractors Jack Silva and Tyrone "Rone Woods and David Denman as former Marine Dave "Boon" Benton.

Bay and screenwriter Chuck Hogan really are interested in the personal stories of these men and how they carried out a risky military operation despite the fact that they were now civilians who hadn't trained together for this kind of mission. Bay even has some sympathy for the CIA chief who didn't want to blow his junior officers' cover by sending the contractors on a mission, a decision that probably cost Ambassador Stevens his life.

We visited Miami and spoke with Michael Bay, the cast and real-life veterans Geist, Tiegen and Paronto about their experiences on the film.

Michael Bay

Mark "Oz" Geist, John "Tig" Tiegen and Kris "Tanto" Paronto

John Krasinski ("Jack Shaw")

James Badge Dale ("Tyrone 'Rone' Woods")

Pablo Schreiber ("Kris 'Tanto' Paronto") and David Denman ("Dave 'Boon' Benton")