United 93
Oliver Stone’s World Trade Centre – obviously a reflection on the events that unfolded in lower Manhattan on September 11 2001 - was a simple but effective glorification of the heroes from that day – a celebration of the human spirit and the courage and selflessness that emerged in the face of what was the country’s darkest hour. Unusual for a Stone film you walk away from that film feeling a bit warm and fuzzy inside.
Paul Greengrass’ United 93 on the other hand sets out to bleakly portray the chaotic confusion and frightening reality that day also brought – especially what must have been a terrifying ordeal for those passengers on the planes that were turned into bombs with wings. 93 is shot in a pure documentary style that pulls out all stops to convince you of its realism, and the cast are all unknowns - with the exception of a few people actually playing themselves. (Obviously no one on the plane, stupid.)
There are licences taken here and there - naturally, as no one knows exactly what happened on board - but they say that most of the passenger’s families gave their blessings and helped relay the final phone calls they shared with their loved ones, so it’s perhaps as accurate an account as we’re likely to get on their actions. There’s also various debate as to if the passengers ever managed to break through to the cockpit or not as they are shown doing in the film, or if that was just made up to give the American public a much needed dose of ra-ra patriotism at the time, and then there’s the conspiracy theory that the plane was indeed shot down by the United States government - far from the wackiest conspiracy theory out there. (Actually makes sense to me…sacrifice the few to save possibly thousands more casualties.). But like World Trade Centre, the image of heroes sacrificing themselves in the face of such terror is one of the more positive impressions you were left with when the dust settled on that day, so it’s no surprise how much people latched onto it.
The only real dodgy moment is when you see a photo of The White House one of the terrorists has put on the dashboard of the cockpit. Um, what? A) It’s never been proved what the terrorists final target was, and, B) If the terrorist doesn’t know what the White House looks like how the fuck is a photo gonna help him find it? Surely that guy failed terrorist school.
That’s really the only misstep in what is otherwise one of the scariest and most powerful films you’re ever likely to see. During the last fifteen minutes you might find yourself holding your breath as it comes to the tragic end we already know it has to.