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Title:
World Trade Center
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Wouldn't you know it? So far this year, I've only seen one movie that I consider to be Best Picture material. That movie is "United 93" as you all probably know. Aside from that, the year has been filled with movies that are decent, fun, but largely forgettable. Now I've seen my second film that might be worthy of a Best Picture nomination, and wouldn't you know it, it's another 9/11 movie. All I have to say is that for an event that changed the face of America, Hollywood sure is milking this event for all it's worth. Now, since this IS an event that changed the face of America, there has been much discussion on whether or not this is too soon for a 9/11 movie. Honestly, it all depends on who you are. I say that the closer you were or weren't to ground zero will be a major deciding factor on whether or not you'll want to see this movie or not.
Whether you see this or not is entirely up to you, just like every other movie out there, so I don't see any reason to get into the "should I/shouldn't I" discussion. If you want to see it, see it. If you don't want to see it, then don't. It's that simple. Personally, I think something that would be of better discussion is whether or not Maggie Gyllenhaal should have been a part of a major motion picture about 9/11, seeing as how her comments on what happened that day were "America is responsable in some way [for the attacks]." Personally, I think her being in this movie offends me more then the actual movie itself, which is actually a typical disaster movie that ends up being an uplifting survival story.
"World Trade Center" revolves around the terrorist attack on 9/11 (obviously), with the exception that the focus of the movie is not on the politics or plane attacks themselves, but about two cops (played by Nicolas Cage and Michael Pena) who are cops who are just doing their everyday job. They rush into one of the buildings shortly after the planes crash into the World Trade Center, and while they are helping evacuate people who are trapped in the building, the building falls on them. They wake up a couple hours later trapped under rubble, and unable to get out. The two cops talk to each in an effort to keep each other alive. Meanwhile, back at home, their wives, friends, and family helplessly watch the news on the TV, and wait for phone calls confirming whether their husbends are alive or dead.
At a church in New Jersey, an ex-Marine commander prays to God, and feels called to re-enter the Marine squad and help pull survivers out of the rubble. Well, that's about the jist of the story. In other words, while this is an Oliver Stone film, don't expect there to be a big conspiracy theory going on here, ala "JFK." No, this is a movie of survival and the human soul. On the other hand, some people might just see it as another disaster film that just happens to revolve around the events of 9/11. Well, depending on how you view this movie, let it be known that "World Trade Center" is a very good movie. It is NOT as good as "United 93" though! Why is that you ask? Well, it's simple really: "World Trade Center" is a Hollywood movie instead of a independant film.
"United 93's" goal was to create the best image possible of what happened on United 93 when the passengers decided to take over the plane and crash it. "World Trade Center" on the other hand is meant to tell a story. Where in "United 93" we knew very little of what was happening outside the plane, in "World Trade Center" we know a whole lot more. We see how the police force is handling the situation. We see ex-Marines come out to help at ground zero. We see the families and their reactions to the TV. We see what people around the country feel about the attacks (most of the world is disturbed by our attack, but Afganistan throws a parade), and in a VERY strange move, something that I so totally didn't expect from an Oliver Stone film, President Bushes words of comfort are used in powerful scenes where you can't help but feel comforted.
Oliver Stone is known for objecting to presidents who send America to war, so to him show our president in a possitive light when lesser directors would take a moment to criticize him shows great character in my eyes. In another strange move, Jesus visits one of the men trapped in the rubble in a vision, and from that point on they know that they will get out of there alive (or, at least one of them does). To see many Christian images in a Hollywood movie is strange in itself, to see them used in spiritual ways is even more surprising. And from what I've read, one of the cops actually did see Jesus in the rubble, so this image is accurate. Now that I think of it, I've been spending a lot of time talking about politics, religion, and controversy. The actual movie itself has taken a backseat to me discussing everything that's surrounding the movie itself.
To be honest, I would discuss more of the movie, but there isn't much to describe. When you get right down to it, "World Trade Center" is simply a well made movie, but that's all. It's not revolutionary, it's not controversial, and it's not political. This is just a well made movie. If you only have the energy to see one 9/11 movie, make sure it's "United 93," which IS a great movie, but if you can stomach two, then "World Trade Center" is a nice complimentary feature! That said, I probably would have prefered to see this next year, when there wouldn't be a previous 9/11 movie in the theaters. But that doesn't really effect the quality of this movie, so I guess I shouldn't worry about it too much.
P.S. There has been some concern over how historically accurate Oliver Stone is with the facts in this movie. While Stone makes great movies, he is not known for being historically accurate with his facts. It is true that Stone did far more research for this film then any other film he's made, but there was at least one goof. That goof is with the SGT. Jason Thomas character. While SGT. Jason Thomas is a real character, and really was an ex-Marine who put on his uniform and went searching for men in the rubble, the real SGT. Jason Thomas was black. The actor who plays SGT. Jason Thomas in this movie, though, is white. D'oh!
- -Review By Kevin T. Rodriguez- -