Jesus had a bottled water

Rating: 8/10 (12 August 2006)

Greetings again from the darkness. There is a bit of NASCAR appeal to Oliver Stone movies. With the car races, there is always a certain segment of viewers who kind of hope for a massive pile-up featuring fire balls. With Stone's movies, many can't wait to see his political agenda or twisting of facts to "prove" the newest conspiracy theory. It is with both relief and dismay that I report "WTC" is a right down the fairway presentation of one sub-plot of the tragic 9/11 events.
Port Authority Police officers John McLoughlin and Will Jimeno were two of the twenty people rescued from the tower rubble after the collapses. Knowing that much going in prevents any real dramatic suspense from being generated. That said, watching human pain and suffering is never easy and with excellent directing and acting, it can still be fascinating to behold. Nicolas Cage and Michael Pena are effective as McLoughlin and Jimeno. The dynamic of their near hopeless state is staged very well. However, the real story here is the families endurance and dealings with the not knowing the status of their loved ones. Playing the buried officer's wives are the wonderful Maggie Gyllenhaal and Maria Bello. Both bring as much heart and emotion to these women's actions as possible. Yes, it borders on heavy-handed melodrama at times, but don't forget these are tragically real events.
As with most Stone films, the supporting cast is very good. Included are Nicky Katt, Stephen Dorff, Frank Whaley, Jay Hernandez, Patti D'Arbanville and Harmonica Sunshine (playing a hooker, but I just love that name!). Don't miss the cameos by the real life McLoughlin and Jimeno and brace yourself for the entire sequence of the disaster and shock of those in the middle of it. This is no Michael Bay schlock action movie, this is a combination of amazing sets that we are all too familiar with.
The little human story of this horrible time in our history can provide hope to all in regards to the strength of the soul and spirit of so many.