Just the facts; no drama

Rating: 5/10 (29 April 2006)

Writer/director Paul Grengrass chose to go with a straightforward, home-video style with this film. There is no attempt at finding stories or meaning, no plot to speak of. Things simply happen and then it's over.
By going with a barely-compressed time frame which denies the audience a chance to see into the lives of the people involved before the events play out, we are denied involvement with the emotions of the characters from anything but a superficial, fly-on-the-wall standpoint.
Greengrass chose to focus narrowly in this movie on air traffic controllers and the passengers on United 93, none of whom we ever really get to know.
Frankly, while the finished product is probably exactly what Greengrass was after, a far more remarkable film could have easily been made of this event. But is it still too soon? For a "real" movie, yes. But this thing is respectful to a fault, except perhaps in the implicit condemnation of the US's leadership in a time of crisis. That very carefulness, that presentation of everything in as neutral a light as possible, ultimately leaves an empty hole that will probably bring very few viewers the catharsis they bought a ticket to seek.
If this were a work of fiction, it would be a very minor release. If it had ever been made at all.
A final comment: I for one am sick to death of watching camcorder-style photography in big-buck movies. Focus, steady shots, action that's not rendered an incoherent blur, smooth zooms instead of quick, jerky, "my first video with this new camera" pulls and pushes: is it really too much to ask for?