Decision ‘08

United 93 Opens Today

For reasons that will be clear in a couple of hours, I won’t be catching United 93 today or even this weekend, though I hope to early next week. A couple of late-breaking reviews…

The NY Times:

A persuasively narrated, scrupulously tasteful re-creation of the downing of the fourth and final plane hijacked by Islamist terrorists on Sept. 11, “United 93″ is the first Hollywood feature film to take on that dreadful day. It won’t be the last. (Next up, ready or not: Oliver Stone’s “World Trade Center.”) Preceded by both the expected bluster and genuine relief that the film is as good as it is — and it is good, in a temple-pounding, sensory-overloading way that can provoke tears and a headache — it was written and directed by the British filmmaker Paul Greengrass, who has crossed the pond to make the feel-bad American movie of the year.

The feel-bad American movie of the year? Groan…that must have seemed clever at the time it was written…but it borders on bad taste.

Roger Ebert, in a 4-star review:

It is not too soon for “United 93,” because it is not a film that knows any time has passed since 9/11. The entire story, every detail, is told in the present tense. We know what they know when they know it, and nothing else. Nothing about Al Qaeda, nothing about Osama bin Laden, nothing about Afghanistan or Iraq, only events as they unfold. This is a masterful and heartbreaking film, and it does honor to the memory of the victims.

…To watch “United 93″ is to be confronted with the grim chaotic reality of that autumn day in 2001. The movie is deeply disturbing, and some people may have to leave the theater. But it would have been much more disturbing if Greengrass had made it in a conventional way. He does not exploit, he draws no conclusions, he points no fingers, he avoids “human interest” and “personal dramas” and just simply watches. The movie’s point of view reminds me of the angels in “Wings of Desire.” They see what people do and they are saddened, but they cannot intervene.

As of this writing, the Tomatometer is at an astonishing 92% (82 positive reviews, 5 negative)…

3 Responses to “United 93 Opens Today”

1 Gwedd Says:
April 28th, 2006 at 4:32 pm
Comrade Mark,

In the interest of full disclosure, there is no way I will see this movie, at least not for the forseeable future. I went in on several accident sites to recover remains, and all of this is just too close to home.

Besides that, it’s too close in time. I don’t watch many Vietnam war movies or shows on the Hitler, err, History channel for the same reasons. Too close in time, too close to home. My dad won’t watch WWII movies for the same reason. He was a Navy Pharmacist Mate assigned to the Marines and participated in a number of landings. New Guinea to Leyte. He saw the real thing and still has yet to see a need to relive it.

To my mind, the best that can be said about this movie is that it is historical fiction. We simply cannot know what went on up there. Despite all the forensics, all the historical data, all we can say is that the flight was highjacked, a portion of the passengers took umbrage with that, and everyone died when the aircraft went down in Pennsylvania.

I am in NO WAY belittling those who died, and especially those who fought back. I would like to think I had the courage to act in a similar manner. Those passengers were Americans, my brothers and sisters. They died during the comission of a crime, and they will always be in my prayers. I have nothing but contempt for those who took over that flight, and the others that fateful day.

But I was not there, I cannot truthfully say what happened, and I am so afraid that those who wrote this are attempting to profit by appealing to out basest instincts.

I have seen the results of a large aircraft impacting the earth. I do not need to see Hollywood’s replay of the same, especially when I realise that all those involved were well-compensated for their efforts.

Respects,

Gwedd
2 mtl Says:
April 30th, 2006 at 10:07 pm
Bought a ticket to support it, but won’t see it in public. My grief is a private matter, and catharsis is not my cup of tea.

Hopefully it comes out on DVD, before November. I’ll be sure to buy a copy.
3 mtl Says:
April 30th, 2006 at 10:11 pm
“But I was not there, I cannot truthfully say what happened, and I am so afraid that those who wrote this are attempting to profit by appealing to out basest instincts.”

Like Michael Moore?

At least this movie is apolitical. Farhenheit was a political rant, with errors beyond reason, and way far ‘too soon’.
Surely since Farhenheit had little impact on the election of 04, 93 will not sway opinion in 06.