Not as good as United 93... but still pretty good

Rating: 8/10 (18 December 2006)

The second major American film depicting events of 9/11/01. It's greatest crime is that it's not as good as Paul Greengrass' United 93, which was the first. Otherwise, it's a rather good movie that would have been seen as restrained, had it not been for the utterly restrained, documentary-esquire United 93. Yes, in comparison, it does seem overly melodramatic, but it really isn't. The first 35 minutes or so are about as good as United 93. Nicholas Cage and Michael PeÃ±a star as two Port Authority police officers who are sent to the World Trade Center after the first tower has been hit by a plane. By the time they arrive, the second plane has hit, but the cops are completely unaware of what is happening. While attempting to transport equipment from WTC 5 to WTC 1 via an underground tunnel, the second tower collapses, killing many of the officers and trapping the survivors under rubble. After WTC 1 collapses, only Cage and PeÃ±a are left alive, but pinned down and unable to move. The film's major problem comes in here. Where it's easy to appreciate the horrors of these guys' situation, the film becomes inert. At this point, the focus shifts over to their suffering wives, played by Maggie Gyllenhaal and Maria Bello. The role of a cop's wife is always a pretty dull one, so you have to give credit to the two actresses for giving the characters at least some personality. And there are a couple of great parts here, too, like when Gyllenhaal has to run to the pharmacy. On the way back, her brother, who is driving, stops at a red light, and she just jumps out of the car and starts walking home. The movie still does lag during this period. One of the officers (PeÃ±a) has a vision of Christ, which I'm sure will bother some. It might have been better of Stone not to depict this literally, but I certainly don't begrudge this real person a religious vision, especially in these circumstances. The film picks up again when the two men are discovered by a couple of Marines. My only problem thereafter was a couple of references to revenge, which seems off the focus of the other themes of the picture, and a possible, though probably not purposeful, connection made between 9/11 and Iraq. The musical score, by Craig Armstrong, is surprisingly subtle for the most part (and excellent). I'm not really sure where the acidic criticism comes from. I saw more than one person claim that Oliver Stone had lost his spine on this one. What did you want him to do? Give time to the multitude of moronic conspiracy theories that exist around 9/11? Some of the conspiracy theories concerning JFK are at least somewhat believable. None of the ones surrounding 9/11 are. If Scorsese had directed this picture, the only difference would have been a lot more cutting. And he would be an even more sure thing for the Oscars. Honestly, while not at the level of United 93, World Trade Center is a worthwhile and quite a powerful movie in its own right.