Incredibly tense

Rating: 10/10 (9 January 2007)

Without any doubt one of the best films of 2006, possibly *the* best American film, "United 93" really demonstrates the true power of the film medium. It grabs your attention immediately and it's impossible not to emerge yourself in the true story about the passengers on United Airlines' flight 93 on September 11, 2001 - despite the fact that you know how the story is going to end. It's quasi-documentary style fits the story like a glove, and remarkably, director Greengrass avoids every single opportunity to get into Hollywood-isms (single male heroics, presidential bullshit, 101 strings) - this is a terribly frightening film but it's also a very respectful depiction of the people who was on board that plane. Keeping everything in balance (another important example is the low-key but very effective score by John Powell), throwing in some strong critique towards the US authorities (who admittedly were in a state of shock and utter confusion during the 9/11 events), Greengrass succeeds in telling a story you already know in a way that really absorbs you.