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Back Shelf Beauties
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United 93 Everyone I talk to about United 93 asks some variation of the same question, "Is this movie about September 11 coming out too soon?" However, I think the question should be, "Are YOU ready to see this movie?" We don't have an election to determine when it is appropriate to make a film/TV show/CD about a tragic event, but each person can make up their own mind as to whether they wish to spend their money on this movie, or go see something else, and you don't have to feel guilty about it or justify it to anyone. This is one of the most personal decisions any American can make. That's the way it should be. We all heal at different rates. We all have different reactions to the events of that tragic day. Look inward to judge whether or not you want to see United 93, but I will help you make this decision by telling you everyone involved with the making of the movie has done their job in the most powerful and respectful way I can imagine, and shows us what heroes these passengers and crew on United 93 were when called by fate and circumstance to act to protect their fellow man and woman. Writer/director Paul Greengrass never pulls any punches, always presents us a view of how harrowing this day was, but never exploits it or resorts to Hollywood histrionics. You don't need much of a plot summary. In real time, the audience is shown what happens on board United Airlines Flight 93 on September 11, 2001 as terrorists hijack the plane with the intention of crashing it into the United States Capitol Dome, and the passengers on board, after learning what has happened at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, decide to fight back and stop this dastardly scheme. Along the way, we see the reaction air traffic control centers have as they assess the situation, realize their worst nightmares and undertake Herculean efforts to protect our country and the lives of those on other aircrafts and on the ground. Greengrass uses his customary cinema verite style to make the audience feel like it is sitting in the plane, in the traffic control centers, or in the terrorists' hotel rooms as one of America's most heartbreaking and heroic stories is played out before us in real time. Ingeniously, Greengrass and team have cast virtual unknowns and actual participants in the tragic September 11 events to make sure the audience is never focusing on some big star or listening to some song the studio hopes will make us buy a CD. Instead, he has us paying attention to what is happening on the screen, and allows us to respect the decision these brave men and women made on that doomed flight. Greengrass even goes so far as to virtually eliminate the film's musical score (which only pops up for a few moments later on in the film). Rightfully so, Greengrass has made a statement - we don't need the typical Hollywood magic or frills to captivate the audience with this powerful, extraordinary story, and adding those elements would be disrespectful. What we get is a raw emotional movie that tears at your heart, brings out the rage you feel about what has happened and wraps you up in the tension, sadness and confusion that was taking place on that plane. It's a real emotion, not one coaxed out of us by the strings of a violin and a heart-wrenching close up of a teary eyed mother saying good-bye to her daughter. Greengrass shows us how the day's tone changes from run of the mill to frightening, and we see that on the face of every actor on screen. United 93 also takes a moment to remind us of the bravery on the ground as air traffic controllers confronted a worst case scenario no one ever imagined, and did what they could to prevent tragedy - a part of the story that doesn't always get told. Yes, 4 planes caused horrifying devastation and loss of life, but, as we learned later on, there could have been more planes and more terrorists out there waiting to act, but they were stopped by the courageous decision to ground every flight in American airspace, which turns out to be one of the movie's best scenes. Greengrass also deserves kudos for what we don't see on the screen. While he does show some of the graphic violence and fighting that took place on the plane as terrorists took over United 93, as well as the counterattack waged by the passengers, some moments you expect to get big billing are not exploited. He avoids the very personal and tearful good-byes made by passengers that day. These moments are in the movie, but never in a mawkish or obvious way. Also, Todd Beamer's declaration of, "Let's Roll" is treated much the same way. You'll see and hear it if you look for it, but Greengrass does what he can to focus on the efforts and contributions each passenger could make realizing the big picture is enough to move us without some major close-ups and made for movie moments. Greengrass and team have made some effort to combat charges of exploitation, including the involvement and blessing from victims' families, and Universal's donation of 10% the movie's opening weekend box office take to the United Flight 93 Memorial Fund. However, one group in particular might be very upset with this movie. Of everyone involved, the U.S. Military comes out looking the worst in United 93. Greengrass shows us a military command center always a step behind the rest, always armed with old information or bad information. He took this from the 9/11 commission findings and other sources. However, I hope this doesn't lead to a feeling of ill will towards the men and women of our military, particularly those who were doing what they could to react that day. In America, we too often look for a knee-jerk placing of blame, as if every action taken in the world can be stopped or should be anticipated. What September 11, and the movie United 93 shows us, is that we can't expect the unexpected, but we can act with honor and bravery when called upon to do so. 4 Waffles (Out Of 4) Copyright 2006 - WaffleMovies.com
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