A powerful, heart-rending and shocking film - United 93 is absolutely spiffing.

Rating: 10/10 (9 November 2006)

United 93 is possibly one of this year's most controversial films - but it is one that was made for a purpose - the first ever feature film on 9/11. And I am glad to see that the first ever film on this topic was this. United 93's biggest success, I thought, was its strong, realistic, and powerful script - the way we switched between Air Control and the United 93 flight was a very well-done theory, and one that has been done in a brilliant and truthful way - nobody exactly knew what was going on then. Though we never will know what it was really like, United 93 brings us extremely close to reality, and lets us feel everybody's struggles.
The scenes on the plane when the terrorists took over were hugely distressing - the hand-held camera work and lack of Hollywoodisation only made it more shocking. The most upsetting scenes on this film were the ones on which the passengers were speaking to their families by Air phone - they knew full well that their fate was not a good one, but just couldn't put it to their loved ones easily. The ending was extremely unforgettable - the bravery of the passengers who stood up against their assailants shall never be forgotten, and is brought brilliantly to the screen. Though there aren't many clear scenes of violence and stabbing, the screaming and blood make the experience of United 93 a hugely distressing one - this was easily best with a low budget. The last ever shot was one that shall stick in my mind forever - the ground drawing closer and closer, and then all went black.
More good things in this film are the musical score, for a kick-off - it was hugely tense, involved no searing orchestral music (John Williams is a culprit for this crime), and made the scenes in various Air Control bases much more tense - and the little-known cast, who have delivered brilliant, captivating, and expert performances - Tom Hanks be damned. The opening scenes were hugely difficult, especially the ones with the waiting passengers and pilots - they had absolutely no idea what was going to become of them, and that their experiences would one day become recorded in the annals of history.
On the whole - United 93 is nothing short of spiffing - even the title menu on the DVD had me captivated before I even started the film. A must see. 10/10