Today’s quick review: 6 Days. On April 30, 1980, Arab terrorists take over the Iranian embassy in London, taking over two dozen hostages. Chief Inspector Max Vernon (Mark Strong) attempts to negotiate with Salim (Ben Turner), the leader of the terrorists, but only succeeds in stalling for time. Meanwhile, Lance Corporal Rusty Firmin (Jamie Bell) of the SAS Special Projects Team prepares his men to raid the embassy if negotiations break down.
6 Days is a crime thriller based on a true story. 6 Days depicts the response of the British police, military, and press to a hostage standoff at the Iranian embassy. The movie captures the delicate nature of the negotiations, the political pressures involved, and the phases of preparation the SAS team goes through, all leading up to a final confrontation. Solid craftsmanship and an eye for detail make 6 Days a decent watch.
6 Days has a couple of aspects that help carry it. Chief among these is the performance of Mark Strong as Max Vernon, a hostage negotiator who genuinely wants to prevent the situation from ending in bloodshed. At the same time, the rigorous preparations of Rusty and his men show just how complicated an assault on prepared targets can be. The parallel threads of negotiation and force give the movie a comprehensive perspective on a complicated situation.
Even so, 6 Days is not as heartfelt, as elaborate, or as thrilling as other movies in a similar vein. There is no grand plan for the terrorists, only a volatile situation and a set of impossible demands. There is a human angle as Max and Salim attempt to find some sort of common ground over the phone, but there’s only so far they can go. And while there is some action, it is closer to a historical record rather than thrills for their own sake.
Watch 6 Days is you are interested in the political and tactical realities of a hostage situation. 6 Days does a good job of presenting its subject matter, telling a succinct story that covers precisely what it needs to. But it’s missing some of the raw appeal of fictional crime movies and dramas that dive deeper into the human side of things. Accommodating viewers will find it worthwhile; viewers with high standards can do better.
For another tense hostage situation, try The Negotiator, Mad City, or Dog Day Afternoon. For another true story about a major criminal incident in modern Britin, try The Bank Job. For a more plot-oriented hostage standoff, check out Inside Man.
6.2 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 for solid pieces without the extra power needed to stand out.