One shocking moment that has received little press (as of now) comes towards the end, where a German passenger tries to alert the hijackers to the rebellion before being restrained. I researched the incident, but could find nothing to support the event, except that a German man was in fact on the plane. Was Greengrass trying to portray Americans as the people who stand up and fight back against terror, while cowardly Europeans such as the Germans would rather negotiate and surrender? Probably not, but the argument could certainly be made.
If the takeover of the plane is gruesome, the passenger’s assault serves as a moment of bloody catharsis. It would be hard not to feel a small piece of joy as the hijackers panic, terrified that instead of becoming part of a holy missile to destroy the U.S. Capitol Building, they are going to be quite literally torn to pieces by furious passengers. I suspect that after the horrified screams of the passengers, the film’s most talked about sound effect will be the sickening crunch of a fire extinguisher caving in a hijacker’s skull.
Endlessly talked about in the mainstream press, United 93 interestingly hasn’t received as much buzz as it might amongst audiences. Many feel the film comes too soon after 9/11, while others are apprehensive about having to view the event through the eyes of the dead. Is United 93 too soon?
United 93 not only isn’t too soon, it hasn’t arrived quickly enough. It succeeds at honoring the victims of 9/11 beyond the wildest expectation. Appropriately harrowing and terrifying, it instantly reaches a realm of importance that few films do. To avoid this genuinely relevant and amazing film out of fear would be a disservice to oneself and the memory of those portrayed within. Mark my words, there won’t be a more meaningful work of art made for a long time to come.
5 out of 5
Article comments
1 - Phillip Winn
I've been skeptical that any movie about 9/11 could do anything but suck, but the buzz I'm hearing says that this movie manages to deliver, primarily because of that tight focus you mention.
I think I'm going to need to revise my opinion. Oliver Stone's film will almost certainly deserve my scorn, but this one might just work well.
2 - Casey Lunkley
Hehe. I think this review may be just a bit biased. Especially coming from someone who proclaims he could be the "most obsessed '24' fan in the Midwest". Have a thing for exciting plots of terror, do we?
"United 93" is MUCH too soon. You can refer to my recent blog on the subject here for my reasons behind my opinion.
Nicely written, though.
3 - Keith Demko
Great review ... going to see this one later today, and I agree that it is already political in nature .. it doesn't need to shout out a stance when depicting such a grim event
4 - James Frazier
Thanks for the comments! I'd really wanted to deliver a nicely written review on this film, as I'm one of those people who really took 9/11 to heart.
Phillip, I'm with you on scorning the Oliver Stone film. He's an amazingly skilled director, IMO, but I have little confidence in his ability to treat the 9/11 subject matter respectfully. I will give it a shot, however, when the time comes.
Casey, I'd wondered if anyone would point out my love for '24' when commenting! One of the reasons I am so enamored with that series is that it has no problem treating terrorism as evil. Your post on the film coming too soon was interesting. Were you in NYC when it happened? I was watching at my high school in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and I was really choked up. I can just imagine what it would be like to see it personally.
Keith, you should definitely let me know what you think about the film's politics. I certainly don't think it is right or left wing in the contemporary American way, but I took the scene with the screaming German to really be saying something about their contributions to the terror war.
Thanks again for the comments, guys.
5 - Casey Lunkley
Hey James. Yeah, I was in New York when it happened. I didn't see the towers come down with my own eyes or anything, but it was quite upsetting.
You did a really good review. It looks like a very well made movie...I'm just not comfortable with the profits being made from it.