Tribute to the concerted rescue efforts and validating inextinguishable spirit & faith vital for survival

Rating: 8/10 (28 August 2006)

Perhaps no film will ever appease the devastation or recover the monumental losses of affected families, but the fact that "World Trade Center" the film was made attests to our remembrance of the event. Respectfully dedicated to the dead and the living, director Oliver Stone and fellow producers were brave in having a non action-pack approach to "WTC" without sensationalism. We were shown reenactment and the dramatic reactions/responses of people involved or cared and wanted to lend a helping hand.
Nicholas Cage superbly delivered a restrained, understated performance, along with Michael Peña (the locksmith/father in Paul Haggis' "Crash" 2005), portraying two New York City Port Authority Police Officers under harrowing disastrous situation. The film may be 'underwhelmed' by the survival segment that 'replicated' the possible interminable feeling of waiting to be rescued. It is relentlessly devastating, energy draining, mind numbing. Yet the fortitude and strength demonstrated to keep going, to have faith (be it wavered or seemingly hopeless) - hanging on with the help of loving memories of family and loved ones - sustained the survival power (in the mind, since physically incapacitated). It is a moving experience in spite of the seeming inactivity. The 'unadorned' photography by Seamus McGarvey, with 'just enough' music by Craig Armstrong, and the effectively 'real' sound design and visual re-creations all enhanced what we see on screen.
Besides the core performances of Cage as Sgt. John McLoughlin and Peña as Officer William Jimeno, the script by Andrea Berloff afforded sketches of their wives' reactions poignantly portrayed by Maria Bello as Donna McLoughlin and Maggie Gyllenhaal as Allison Jimeno. One might find the pace slow with the survival segments or even the rescue scenes - but if to compare what the survivors, rescuers, families had gone through in real time - the actual waiting period is much more than a mere 2 hours we sat through at the cinema.
Also recommended: the TV film "Flight 93" 2006 (directed by Peter Markle, written by Nevin Schreiner) is a very good docudrama. It was done with respect, sensitivity, and truly dedicated to the families involved. Included on DVD are interviews with filmmakers, behind the scenes insight.
The film "United 93" 2006 by UK director Paul Greengrass (who gave us "Bloody Sunday" 2002), is objective and well-delivered, tightly scripted by Greengrass himself. DVD to release on Sept 5, 2006.