United 93

[DotTheEyes]

...is out on DVD today and I recommend it to everyone here.

Paul Greengrass (director of The Bourne Supremacy) collected the blessings of each and every victim's family members before moving into production on his disturbing and matter-of-fact 9/11-themed docudrama. His film, in essence, tells two stories. The main thread follows forty anxious, desperate airline passengers who, once learning what the terrorists who've captured their plane plan to do, decide to rise as one and put up a final fight. The scenes not set on the plane depict unprepared civilian and government officials as they scramble to comprehend what they're witnessing and react.

Greengrass goes to great lengths to achieve realism. His extensive use of hand-held photography (and close-ups) puts you right in the middle of the terror and gives every scene a fly-on-the-wall appeal. He also decides to cast no A-list stars, perhaps believing recognizable A-listers (Tom Cruise, for example) would lift people out of the experience. Instead, he cast talented unknowns who fill their intense roles well. He also uses quite a few real aviation officials who play themselves and add yet another layer of spectacular authenticity.

Once people get past the question of whether it is too late or too soon for Hollywood to examine 9/11, their next question might be: Should I sit through a film about one of the most depressing and terrifying days in our country's history? My answer is Yes, because I found watching this film to be very cathartic. Yes, I cried during it and was left haunted and disturbed at the end, but it also let me re-examine the emotions I felt on 9/11 and begin to put it all in perspective.

So, yes, I welcome tasteful, well-made films about 9/11, such as this and Oliver Stone's World Trade Center with Nicolas Cage. If they're good films and prove healing, I wish them all the success in the world. And I recommend United 93 to those who feel they're ready to handle it and/or are fascinated by what happened on the morning of September 11th, 2001.

[desertrat (Premo)]

I saw it last night and agree. Very intense and well done.

[vraiblonde]

Watched it tonight and...WOW.

It doesn't look like a movie - no big lights, stars or special effects. If it wasn't a true story, you wouldn't watch past the first 10 minutes because it's almost like a documentary. But the mundane stuff going on is very intense, because you know what's coming.

The stewardesses look like stewardesses, not actresses. In fact, everyone in the movie looks like a real person. It was very harrowing and stressful, but I highly recommend it.

[DotTheEyes]

I thought the last scene was incredibly well-done and disturbing. It was the perfect note to end on, though.

[vraiblonde]

Originally Posted by DotTheEyes

I thought the last scene was incredibly well-done and disturbing. It was the perfect note to end on, though.

I thought so, too. Very good movie.

[virgovictoria (Premo)]

I finally allowed myself to watch portions of this movie today. I don't know whether it was a lack of sleep or truly the reincarnation of the day and panic, but I drifted off as I started to get overwhelmed. I honestly felt terror all over again. I haven't felt that sensation in some time. It brought me back to the morning of September 11th; it brought me home to where I stood at the time, what I saw, what I knew, what I felt and the feelings of those around me. It also brought forth the sense of isolation some of us felt in the DC area when we couldn't reach our loved ones on land lines or by cell or vacate our posts.

Then, I saw the times in the movie, in the passengers prior to boarding, in the sense of freedom that we used to feel. One passenger sat next to the terrorist in the terminal without a thought. No bomb barricades in front of the terminals out front. No triple security, no Air Marshalls, no three hour pre-flight arrival requirement.

I wanted to vomit. I cried. I forgot how fukking angry I was. I forgot how I felt watching the Pentagon burn and worrying about imminent attacks on our President. I didn't even know of the mass murders of the Twin Towers until much later, when I finally got home from my office.

I will never know what those passengers felt; as an American, I am thankful. I am so so sorry, still, for those that lost their lives and the families that carry on after 9/11.

And so.... The movie, what I saw of it, cannot begin to describe the rest of the feelings it evoked. I refuse to say "GREAT" OR "AWESOME", or anything that emotes enjoyment. But, it is a well done, moving - moving picture of a day that changed my life.

I've had The World Trade Center for some time... who knows when I'll have the courage to watch it.

[DotTheEyes]

I found World Trade Center far easier to watch, perhaps because it has an A-list celeb in the lead role (Nicolas Cage) and tells the story of two men who survived 9/11.

This movie, with its cast of unknown actors and actresses and inevitable, grisly ending, had more... oomph.

[camily]

It was a good movie, but there is alot of imbellishment. For example, the conversations on the plane are compleely made up. I don't mean the conversations on the phone, but between passegers. Don't get me wrong, it was a great movie and I cried through ALOT, but some of it there is no way they would know.

[DotTheEyes]

Obviously, but it was done tastefully and (rightfully) shows them as ordinary people who acted with bravery under extraordinary circumstances.