A PC dud

Rating: 3/10 (10 August 2006)

World Trade Center: The movie is boring. We spend much of the time with the two buried policeman all in dark close-up. At least an equal amount of time is spent with the two wives and families of these policeman. This was somewhat more interesting but not much more. At least, it gave the two actresses and their families opportunities to express more varied emotions. Also, the photography was grainy in the parts with the family, like a TV show where the image had deteriorated. I saw it at the Academy theater in Los Angeles. The characters were flat, totally without complexity or even shading. The energy that Oliver Stone's movies usually have was absent. If the studio was nervous about Oliver Stone making a movie on this subject, why did they choose him? Was their influence responsible for the colorless, undramatic treatment of the subject? United 93 was a far better movie that was careful to maintain an evenhanded presentation of the events. Some have faulted United 93 for being too evenhanded. Agree or disagree, it was not boring. All in all, as spectacle, commentary, insight, entertainment... WTC = DOA.