Sad but Inspiring...

Rating: 10/10 (4 June 2006)

I saw United 93 yesterday, and it affected me so deeply that I was awake most of the night thinking about it. It is a long, long time since I have been so moved by a film.
United 93 is the sad but inspiring account of the actions of a group of passengers on a hijacked jet on September 11, 2001. The director, Paul Greengrass, uses shaky, hand-held cameras which make us feel as if we are at the centre of the action. The cinematography is outstanding. As one might expect, the film is terribly sad...one scene in particular got to me...as United 93 is taking off from Newark Airport, the Captain remarks what a beautiful day it is...we then see the plane fly past the World Trade Centre, against a backdrop of a cloudless blue sky. And it was a beautiful day, before tragedy struck...
The acting by the completely unknown cast is superb. Many of the air traffic control staff play themselves and I was particularly impressed by Ben Sliney. Yes, there are violent scenes and it is upsetting to see that plane hit the WTC's South Tower. But this is a story that should be told. The heroism of the passengers and crew of United 93 should not be forgotten.
Although there is no happy ending here, I left the cinema feeling that those 40 people did not die in vain...their actions quite possibly saved the lives of hundreds of people in Washington. The film leaves you in no doubt that these people were heroes.
I really hope that United 93 wins Best Picture at next year's Oscars. It deserves to. It is a fitting tribute to all those who died on that terrible day.