What's Up with the Boom Microphone?

Rating: 7/10 (9 August 2006)

This movie tells the story of 9-11 from the perspectives of two NYC port authority police officers trapped beneath the rubble and their wives waiting at home for news of their fate. It's an interesting way to tell the story. It adds both a touching human element and captures the sheer lack of information available to all involved. But a boom microphone appears at the top of the screen some dozen times during the film. The budget for this film was reported to be around $60 million, yet the repeated appearance of the boom microphone makes it look like a film-school short. The audience chuckled every time it appeared. At one point, I was ready to walk out. It ruins an otherwise nice film.