Nicely made, tastefully done, a tribute to heroes!!

Rating: 8/10 (25 May 2006)

I feel that before I go ahead and review this film I have to make a small statement. September 11th, 2001, devastated the world, especially of course those families who lost their loved ones in the tragedy. There has been a lot of controversy around Hollywood seemingly trivializing the events but it has to be expected that films would be made about. World wars, Serial killers, bombings, and worse have all been subject to film making and if done right simply recognizes the events and helps us remember. I have no beef with films being made about 9/11 and I review this film with the utmost respect, and caring for families and victims of 9/11 and those hijacked planes. My less than perfect score does not in any way represent how I feel about the situation or the people but rather film making style, and how I felt about the movie. If I offend anyone I am deeply sorry.
United 93 is made in an extremely unique and different way. The cast is the exact definition of an "ensemble" because no one person gets a "lead role" or to be the defining character. Instead this is a very real dramatization, in real time of the events on 9/11 eventually leading up to the ill fated flight United 93 who's passengers took control of the aircraft in an effort to stop the terrorists from hitting any other targets. It is believed that they very possibly saved a Washington Target, perhaps even the White House. The film unfolds at a fairly significant speed and each event hits home like a rocket. Watching those planes hit those towers absolutely transports you back to that day and makes you sick to your stomach. We get to see perspectives from the Air Traffic Controllers, and of course the crew, passengers and even the terrorists of United 93.
Paul Greengrass who wrote and directed the film did a stellar job. I think it made people nervous that Greengrass also directed the intense action sequel Bourne Supremacy and he could have made a real big budget Hollywood mess out of a very emotional subject but instead he made it so downright real it was barely a film. It's near impossible to say any one thing about any one actor in the film, they all do such an incredible job of just being real, scared, hurt, angry people. Greengrass even remarkably gave us a small peek into the terrorists who were also scared, determined. angry, and even having second thoughts at certain times. That's pretty incredible to be able to bring some of the worst real life villains in history and humanize them almost to the point of feeling sympathy for their religious fanaticism. The film doesn't try to be what it's not and never tries to add anything for dramatic effect. It's probably one of the most accurate film portrayals in history.
In some ways that becomes this films short coming. It has no "plot line" per se, no characters that you can really get involved with, it's not your average movie going experience. It's almost documentary like without actual information being provided. It drags a little in the middle and the ending is very abrupt but at the same time completely appropriate. It's almost impossible to judge a movie of this caliber because it's not meant to be entertainment per se but truly a tribute to those heroes who possibly saved countless lives. The film is absolutely worth seeing for the reason alone that it's probably one of the most uniquely done films ever. And on top of that it's a touching and well done tribute to those men and women. 8/10