Flawed, Very Good, But Gets Better and Better

Rating: 8/10 (22 January 2019)

10 August 2006. World Trade Center ultimately redeems itself almost in full by the end of the movie. It is respectful and insightful in its powerful way the last third of the movie is directed and acted. The problem with this movie is the way it gets there. Immediately even with the beginning shot, the focus from Nicholas Cage to general shots of the City is somewhat off balance. The editing especially in the beginning is choppy as several times one scene suddenly stops and another begins without much transition or explanation like the scene of going into the World Trade Center and then the Port Authority cops becoming suddenly suited up. There is also too much explanatory narrative, having to explain to the audience what is happening. Finally the backstory, there isn't any and the primary characters and their relationships to their families are only discovered as the movie unfolds. And the rescue is also somewhat cut short with the first efforts of getting to the trapped cops. But these flaws eventually become secondary by one of the strongest finishes of the movie in recent years.
Maggie Gyllenhaal performance stands out as one of the best supporting acting awards of the year. The concept and the opportunity to put on screen this actual event surrounding the trapping of these men and their ordeal was well presented and ultimately compelling on screen as well. Eight out of Ten Stars.