Uncommon valor

Rating: 10/10 (1 May 2006)

UNITED 93 (2006) **** Filmmaker Paul Greengrass' respectful and sharply observed look at the doomed flight United 93 on 9/11 that fought back to their tragic hijacking by Islamic terrorists is the first major motion picture depicting that terrible historical event that forever changed the world. Wisely employing his docudrama vision (Greengrass got his start as a documentary filmmaker) and casting real-life representative witnesses to the terror unfolding (including FAA honcho Ben Sliney playing himself) depicts the chain-of-events in near real-time from the moment of on boarding at Newark International Airport to the realization that a plot of evil was slowly coming to fruition to the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon and ultimately to the hour of fate at hand. Assuredly non-exploitative and arguably professionally handled (with the blessings of the victims' families) the film stands as a true testament to the heroic actions by innocent ordinary people in truly dire extraordinary circumstances. One of the year's best and a must see.