Certainly Not Stone's Best, But Packs a Powerful Punch None-the-Less

Rating: 7/10 (6 October 2006)

"We prepared for everything. Not for this. Not for something this size. There's no plan. " - John McLaughlin (Nicolas Cage) Unfortunately, most people will go into this movie expecting a very pessimistic and horrific re-telling of the accounts of 9/11 but that's nowhere near's the case. It's a story of hope and the survival of two New York Port Authority policemen stuck under the ruins of the World Trade Center. It's a powerful, uplifting story that seems to be far too conventional for Oliver Stone. Stone does a nice job directing, and pretty much all of the actors are involved are solid here. Nicolas Cage delivers a good performance here, which is becoming more and more unusual which each passing year. Maggie Gyllenhaal is great in a small role, and Maria Bello holds her own in an even smaller role. The real stand-out of the cast is, however, Crash's Michael Pena, who delivers an incredible tour-de-force performance that isn't for even a second unbelievable and might very well earn him a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award Nomination come Oscar time. The film is little over-the-top and sappy at some points, but it's still a moving motion picture in that the good far out weighs the bad. Grade: B (screened at AMC Deer Valley 30, Phoenix, Arizona)