Not exactly a great film, but important none-the-less

Rating: 7/10 (14 August 2006)

I think any film that is made about 9/11 is going to be met with high scrutiny and often with a lot of people who'll just turn their noses up at it; claiming that it's just a shameful attempt to cash in on a tragedy to make a profit. To those arrogant, self-indulgent and brainless people who like to judge films before having actually seen them I only have one thing to say; shut up. This film and Paul Greengrass' amazing United 93 serve a bigger, more important purpose than money or profit. These films are meant to inspire, encourage and act as an important reminder of the power and bond that all Americans have to one another in great times of grief and tragedy. Where United 93 was about a group of strangers banding together to fight a common enemy, World Trade Center is about the courage and strength of men who put their lives on the line to help save others. This isn't a film about death and evil and destruction, it's about life, hope, strength, love and the courage to act, and rise up in a time when you are most needed. Any tears that you cry during this film are more likely to be tears of joy.
World Trade Center is an Oliver Stone film, that's oddly enough not an Oliver Stone film; there's no political commentary or message, and no conspiracy theories. I don't think America is quite ready for those films, but I don't doubt that at some point they will get made, eventually, but as for now filmmakers seem to be sticking to the reality of what happened on that day and not making up wild stuff and passing it off as the truth. Oliver Stone's usual style of intense editing, use of black & white film and historical stock footage isn't present in World Trade Center. It doesn't look, sound or move like your typical Oliver Stone film; this is probably the most straightforward film in his career, and it works well because of it.
This film is based on the incredible true story of two Port Authority Police Officers, John McLoughlin (Nicolas Cage) and Will Jimeno (Michael Pena), who were buried in between the twin towers, below twenty feet of rubble. This is just one story of many on the events of that unforgettable day, but this is their story. John and Will were only two of twenty people that were rescued out of the wreckage of the twin towers. Their story won't just grab your throat, but also touch your heart; it's not in the slightest way depressing, it's downright inspiring. I think this is a film that you don't WANT to see, but you HAVE to see. It's a reminder to live life to the fullest, and to not take it for granted, because you never know what tomorrow may bring.
The film balances back and forth from being stuck in the rubble; fighting to stay alive, and showing us what the families of the trapped men go through during the day. The wives want to remain hopefully, but the tension of not knowing what's going on and what's happening are shaking them to their core. And if you think these guys survived the collapse and are safe, and just waited to be rescued, you'd be dead wrong. The danger is very much present the whole time and at any minute they could have been killed. The performances are pretty good, especially Michael Pena as Will Jimeno. Mark my words; this guy's got an Oscar coming to him in his future. Heck, even Jay Hernandez and Stephen Dorff offer solid and respectable performances. Oliver Stone must have done something extraordinary, right? Maggie Gyllenhaal and Maria Bello also deliver durable performances. Although I must say that those bright blue contacts that Maria wore really distracted from her performance. They looked great in Underworld, but here they just look really bad. World Trade Center isn't a great film, and not quite at the same kind of masterful level as United 93 was, but this film is a respectable and important reminder of that tragic day, and it's done with class, emotion and most of all respect.
Some people have said that it's too soon for films to be made about the events of 9/11. I think that's bullshit. There have been plenty of books, documentaries (mostly with political agendas) and TV movies made on 9/11, but most of those things have focused on the darkness and death of that day. What's wrong with taking two hours out of your busy day to be reminded of what good that can come out of it? I think we owe at least that much to them. You have to take the good with the bad, and to remember that day as nothing but bad would be a real tragedy.