A view from below.

Rating: 7/10 (29 July 2006)

I had the privilege of viewing this film pre-release. Neither having seen any previews, nor even realizing this film was in the works, I can honestly say I had no preconceived ideas about the film.
This film basically takes the perspective of two port authority police officers who, during the course of their duty, become trapped in the World Trade Center collapse. The film is much less about the events themselves and much more about the perspective of the two trapped officers and their loved ones. That being said, there is not a whole lot of action. However, the flow of the movie is based on the suspense involving the officers and their families. Will they be discovered? Will they be rescued? Unfortunately this can make the two-hour movie seem to move a bit slow.
The only negative thing I can think of at this time is that there could have been more focus on the efforts of rescue workers trying to free those trapped and find those who did not make it. However, this was evidently not Stone's intention.
The camera work is great, the script writing regarding the main characters and the plot was good.
There are some who think that Stone is simply trying to exploit the incident for a profit. I do not think this is the case. Five years post incident, Stone is trying to tell the stories of the two officers who were trapped as a tribute to all who gave their lives.