Stay United by viewing "United 93"

Rating: 10/10 (1 May 2006)

September 11, 2001 is still in us. It was a calamity that directly impacted many and indirectly impacted all. After observing these repulsive terrorist acts, many of us were quietly uttering the words "This is just like a movie". After you see the shattering gripping film "United 93" , you will be quietly uttering the words "This is just like September 11". Director Paul Greengrass has created a masterpiece of a narrative. The film is based on the hijacked 9-11 United Airlines Flight 93 which was hijacked by terrorists and supposedly was going to strike The White House. However, valiant passengers bombarded the terrorists to prevent The White House strike and instead the plane crashed in a grassy field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The passengers of United 93 woke up on September 11, 2001 as everyday living common people and died that day as forever-to-the-day living-in-our-hearts uncommon heroes. Greengrass powerful directorial execution inserts the viewers as they were actually passengers in United 93 observing the horror objectively, and as if they were air traffic controllers in the stressful trenches of the National Air Traffic Control Centers observing the horror subjectively. The shaky camera style of "United 93" provides an unsettling hysterical perspective to the film which coincides with the emotions all Americans were feeling on that haunting day. Greengrass' not so "plane" delivery of "United 93" was instrumental in disclosing emotions of that infamous day which many of us had stored as secondary sentiments for a couple of years. Greengrass brilliantly interchanges scenes from the turmoil of the flight to the labor of the traffic control centers. He was also wise to cast unknown actors in a film that the characters should supersede the actors portraying them. However, I should point out that the ensemble acting of "United 93" was remarkable and their performances should take off their thespian careers "sky high". "United 93" is a film that is not exploiting September 11. It is an educational film that pays tribute to the crew of United 93. So unite your family & friends and "secure" yourself to your local "homeland" movie theater by embroiling in the cinematic excellence of the film "United 93". ***** Excellent