Paul Greengrass's portrayal of the 9/11 attacks is a harrowing experience, but one that is impossible to forget

Rating: 10/10 (4 July 2017)

September 11, 2001 marks one of the darkest days in American history. Helming a cinematic project inspired by the horrifying day is never an easy task. As thousands of lives along the Twin Towers were lost that day, it's no surprise that many people are simply not ready to relive such a tragic event; some may never be ready. Families were broken and our nation was left shaken to the core. How long will it be before a Hollywood retelling would be appropriate for the big screen. Nonetheless, it is an important story that needs to be told, and it is all done at the hands of director Paul Greengrass. While this doesn't mark the first time Greengrass as brought a tragic real-life event to the silver screen, as one of his past projects 'Bloody Sunday' centered on 1972 Irish Civil Rights protests, is a difficult to believe that the man behind the 'Bourne' films to be he right choice for showcasing the 9/11 attacks. To a stunning surprise, Greengrass establishes an unflinchingly realistic documentary-style retelling of the harrowing events both inside and outside Flight 93, slapping you with the sense that will make you constantly remind yourself that you are not trapped inside the plane in the midst of the chaos. It is a picture destined to leave you haunted long after the end credits roll. Told in real- time, this film centers on the events following the hijacking inside the Flight 93 by the hands of terrorists of Al-Queda, and the passengers that were taking hostage in the heat of the moment. The film alternates back-and-forth between the grisly chaos inside the plane, to the response of the FAA headquarters, to the crew of various air control centers fighting to acquire a signal of everything that is going on as the Twin Towers and the Pentagon are imminently destroyed by three other planes joining in the devastating attack.
It is impossible to accurately confirm an actual representation of what happened on Flight 93. After all, nobody survived to tell the story. But Paul Greengrass's portrayal of the tragic events are about as accurate as a Hollywood director can get. Regardless, everyone who remembers or is even familiar with the event can predict the outcome, and it is far from a happy one. Told in real- time accounts, the first thirty minutes are very procedural, exhibiting the passengers who we never get know board the plane including four other passengers who later reveal to be the terrorists, and the day-to-day life of the air control crew and the members of the FAA headquarters preparing of what was supposed to be a day like every other. Greengrass puts no effort into character development nor does he dispense politics into the mix. But the question is, is it necessary? No, because these were people no one outside of their family got to know. Instead, Greengrass establish each individual as an average person going on with his or her life, and Greengrass avoid distractions by not casting widely known actors in the roles. This method does nothing to stop our heart aching for the anticipated events. When the first hijacking, which takes offscreen in another airplane, starts, that is when all comfort is gone. The film showcases the shock and stress of the FAA headquarters and the air control crew as they must cope with the hopeless events including the destruction of the Twin Towers which are momentarily shown on television images with millions watching. If there is even a single moment of levity, that is when the head of the FAA calls to shut down international air travel. When focusing on the terror attacks inside Flight 93 marks the most harrowing segments. With tear-stricken passengers held hostage and tortured heartlessly, Greengrass decently avoids slipping into exploitation territory or drenching the events with sentimental manipulation. Using his signature documentary-style cinematography, he authenticity captures not only the stress and confusion of the passengers, but the claustrophobia of the confined space. His methodology results in tension that effectively builds up to a punishingly devastating finale. The second that credits start rolling, there is no doubt many will be left emotionally drained.
United 93 is an emotionally devastating experience that no only respectfully honors the victims of the tragic day, but offers audiences are an unforgettable understanding of what happened that day and heroes who sacrificed their lives to foil a plot that threatened the very existence of our nation's capitol. It is definitely not an easy film to sit through, but it is an important one to say the least.