Remembering 9/11
United 93
Review by Ross Anthony

Wow. How do you review something like this? “United 93,” the movie, doesn’t feel so much like a movie. It feels like an event. With such sensitive material, I’m sure many people wonder if the filmmakers will be insensitive in their portrayal – or simply disrespectful. It wouldn’t have been hard for the filmmakers to make bad decisions: use Hollywood stars, over dramatize. Surprisingly, these filmmakers show a great deal of discipline, detail, apparent accuracy, and a point blank, gritty-truth almost-documentary style to tell the tale of September 11, 2001.

Interestingly enough, the film opens from the perspective of the four hijackers of flight 93. But the perspective is often changing, from one airport controller deck to the next, to the military, to the passengers, to the cockpit. The events unravel slowly with a tension that needles. I wasn’t sure I could bare it. Be prepared to relive those horrible feelings of that sad day, now almost 5 years ago.

These are powerful memories. It’s a powerful film. I’m left wondering how the film will impact the world politically. Will American Republicans rally over it saying “See, this is why we need to stay the course in Iraq?” Will Democrats say, “See, how inept our president is … he’s totally unavailable and slow to react.” Will Bin Laden show it to his band and as a document to his success? I say this, what ever happened with the 911 commission’s recommendations? Has this administration implemented them and if not – then why the hell not?

On the whole, the film is acted, directed and shot just about the best it could have been. With these 2 small exceptions: I did not like the ending chord on the fade to black. I did not like the “Ahhing” voice sound in the credit sequence – reminiscent of horror films and/or cheap angel sample.

I do think the film is respectful of those brave airborne innocents who stood up and fought in order to save the lives of so many others on the ground. May they inspire us to courageously and aggressively live our best lives.

Curious about the implementation of the 9/11 commission's recommendations I poked around on the web for info. Here are two very interesting links. The second link is a report card grading of the US’s successes (but mostly failures) wrt these recommendations by the former members of the 9/11 commission: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10314699/site/newsweek/
http://www.9-11pdp.org/

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  • United 93. Copyright © 2006.
  • Directed by Paul Greengrass.
  • Produced by Universal Pictures.

Grade..........................A- (3/4)


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Copyright © 1998-2023 Ross Anthony, Author - Speaker - Solo World Circumnavigator In addition to reviewing films and interviewing celebs at HollywoodReportCard.com, traveling the world, composing great music, motivational speaking, Mr. Anthony also runs his own publishing company in the Los Angeles area. While traversing the circumference of the planet writing books and shooting documentaries, Mr. Anthony has taught, presented for, worked &/or played with locals in over 30 countries & 100 cities (Nairobi to Nagasaki). He's bungee-jumped from a bridge near Victoria Falls, wrestled with lions in Zimbabwe, crashed a Vespa off a high mountain road in Taiwan, and ridden a dirt bike across the States (Washington State to Washington DC). To get signed books ("Rodney Appleseed" to "Jinshirou") or schedule Ross to speak check out: www.RossAnthony.com or call 1-800-767-7186. Go into the world and inspire the people you meet with your love, kindness, and whatever it is you're really good at. Check out books by Ross Anthony. Rand() functions, Pho chicken soup, rollerblading, and frozen yogurt (w/ blueberries) also rock! (Btw, rand is short for random. It can also stand for "Really Awkward Nutty Dinosaurs" -- which is quite rand, isn't it?) Being alive is the miracle. Special thanks to Ken Kocanda, HAL, Jodie Keszek, Don Haderlein, Mom and Pops, my family, R. Foss, and many others by Ross Anthony. Galati-FE also deserves a shout out. And thanks to all of you for your interest and optimism. Enjoy great films, read stirring novels, grow.


Last Modified: Saturday, 16-Sep-2006 07:43:51 PDT