United 93 -A Review
How long should you wait to make jokes about a tragedy? I remember South Park asked this question about AIDS and came up with a figure of... 7 years? I surfed the episode briefly but didn't find the script and therefore couldn't say exactly when you should be able to laugh at AIDS victims according to South Park, BUT, if you're a normal human being you'll do what any good person would do in the face of a huge, devestating tragedy; you imagine how much you can get for the movie rights.
In the case of United 93 people would likely be tempted to think that some movie corporation found a foolproof way to make a buck of 9/11; be faithful to the government report and anyone who questions your motives is a terrorist.
Well, if you wanna get technical, this movie plays by the rules. I read the 9/11 Commission Report (it's on my bookshelf if you wanna quiz me) and although the film begins with an expected disclaimer about artistic license it pretty much plays out the events of that doomed flight in horrifying detail right down to the view of that field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
The entire flight from boarding to crash is documented with almost clinical detail and in a break from traditional disaster flicks this one is tense and frightening because it's 100% true.
Pieced together from flight records and eye-witness accounts taken from phone calls made to family, this is about as close as you can come to the experience of being on a hijacked plane. The question is... do you want to know what that feels like?
Of course it's only a movie, but it's effectiveness isn't in the realistic portrayal of the circumstances on that plane, nor the marked difference from the typical movie portrayal of hijackings as played out in blockbusters on the summer screen which end with a hero saving passengers and crew.
This movie plays out in terrible reality.
Riveting, horrible, cringe-inducing reality. And although this pic doesn't delve into the question of GW's role in the affair, you will notice it makes reference once or twice to an absence of ultimate authority.
The acting is wonderful. These actors -I assume- didn't need much off-screen motivation; they lived and made me live every moment.
I don't recomend you see this movie for any reason other than it's incredibly well done. If you don't want to be back in that headspace of 9/11 craziness then go home.
But if you want a realistic, non-judgemental perspective to the story that might -no, WILL- frighten the shit outta you, then see United 93. I'll admit it... I cried... not for anything other than it made me feel that the reality of this world is way more fucked up than I am comfortable to know.
But see Untited 93 and tell me what you think.
United Airlines Boeing 757-222, flight 93 lifted off from Newark International Airport at 8:42am, September 11th, 2001, despite a scheduled departure of 8:00am. It had 182 seats but was carrying only 37 passengers, including Mark Bingham, who I only mention because he assisted in the attempted overthrow of the hijackers and happened to be gay. He is survived by his partner Paul Holm.
In the case of United 93 people would likely be tempted to think that some movie corporation found a foolproof way to make a buck of 9/11; be faithful to the government report and anyone who questions your motives is a terrorist.
Well, if you wanna get technical, this movie plays by the rules. I read the 9/11 Commission Report (it's on my bookshelf if you wanna quiz me) and although the film begins with an expected disclaimer about artistic license it pretty much plays out the events of that doomed flight in horrifying detail right down to the view of that field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
The entire flight from boarding to crash is documented with almost clinical detail and in a break from traditional disaster flicks this one is tense and frightening because it's 100% true.
Pieced together from flight records and eye-witness accounts taken from phone calls made to family, this is about as close as you can come to the experience of being on a hijacked plane. The question is... do you want to know what that feels like?
Of course it's only a movie, but it's effectiveness isn't in the realistic portrayal of the circumstances on that plane, nor the marked difference from the typical movie portrayal of hijackings as played out in blockbusters on the summer screen which end with a hero saving passengers and crew.
This movie plays out in terrible reality.
Riveting, horrible, cringe-inducing reality. And although this pic doesn't delve into the question of GW's role in the affair, you will notice it makes reference once or twice to an absence of ultimate authority.
The acting is wonderful. These actors -I assume- didn't need much off-screen motivation; they lived and made me live every moment.
I don't recomend you see this movie for any reason other than it's incredibly well done. If you don't want to be back in that headspace of 9/11 craziness then go home.
But if you want a realistic, non-judgemental perspective to the story that might -no, WILL- frighten the shit outta you, then see United 93. I'll admit it... I cried... not for anything other than it made me feel that the reality of this world is way more fucked up than I am comfortable to know.
But see Untited 93 and tell me what you think.
United Airlines Boeing 757-222, flight 93 lifted off from Newark International Airport at 8:42am, September 11th, 2001, despite a scheduled departure of 8:00am. It had 182 seats but was carrying only 37 passengers, including Mark Bingham, who I only mention because he assisted in the attempted overthrow of the hijackers and happened to be gay. He is survived by his partner Paul Holm.
posted by johnnykocktail at 12:30 am
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