I am not sure it is possible to make a definative 9/11 movie, or at least in our generation, as we lived through it. Maybe in fifty years someone younger than me who has only heard about the attack from history books might be able to put together something that might simulate the experince for those who can't remember being glued to the TV on the faithful day. But for me, any movie will inadiquete. That said, United 93 does a reasonably good job at showing what might have happend on board the only plane where the passengers fought back, the one that crashed in a field in Pennsylvania instead of slamming into the White House or Capitol Building as the terrorists intended.
Those who have seen Greengrass's Bloody Sunday, about another tragic historical event will notice many simularities- the docudrama style, handheld camera work, and lack of name actors. Greengrass's style prevents the movie from becoming what everyone was afraid it would be- a piece of propaganda or some kind of Pearl Harbor type action film, but it also prevents us getting involved in any of the characters. This is the movie's biggest failing. I cared about the characters in an abstract sense, but there was no one person that I felt like I knew after the film was over.
But most of the movie works. I particularly remember a moment early in the film when I realzied that every single person on the plane was going to die and under ninety minuets to live. There are also many effective between Air Traffic Control and the Army as they try figure out what is going on. Of course, since we no what is going on, this takes an added meaning. In United 93, there is no suspense, only dread.
Greengrass also does not blame any one person for any of the numerous orginizational problems on 9/11 (although he does indicate that President Bush might put those precious minuets to better use by doing something other than reading My Pet Goat). Rather, he blames a system that had not anticipated and was not prepared for an eventualaity. Most individulals in the controls rooms are shown doing their duty competetantly, it's just that they have no idea what they are supposed to be doing.
Although the film is not the complete knockout that some critics claimed to be, United 93 is a very strong movie. I suppose that that biggest complimenat that I could give it is that I felt something that I hadn't before in regards to 9/11- anger. Instead of sadness as the depth of the tragity, I was angry that terrorists could come into my country and kill thousands of innocent people to make a political statement. In this sense, United 93 is not only a good film, it's important.
United 93 (2006)