United 93 Review

Posted by Chad Webb on 05.01.2006

The next 9/11 film has a tough act to follow.

Lewis Alsamari: Saeed Al Ghamdi
JJ Johnson: Captain Jason M. Dahl
Ben Sliney: Himself
Trish Gates: Sandra Bradshaw
Polly Adams: Deborah Welsh
Cheyenne Jackson: Mark Bingham
Opal Alladin: CeeCee Lyles
Starla Benford: Wanda Anita Green
Nancy McDoniel: Lorraine G. Bay
David Alan Basche: Todd Beamer
Richard Bekins: William Joseph Cashman
Susan Blommaert: Jane Folger
Ray Charleson: Joseph DeLuca
Peter Hermann: Jeremy Glick
Christian Clemenson: Thomas E. Burnett Jr.
Liza Colon-Zayas: Waleska Martinez
Directed by: Paul Greengrass
Release Date: April 28, 2006
Running Time: 111 minutes







Rated R for language, and some intense sequences of terror and violence

We knew this day would come at some point. The first film about September 11, 2001 is finally here. Its arrival is full of controversy and speculation. There has been much talk of the timing of United 93. Is it too early for such a story? For some, the time will never be right, because the lasting memory that fateful day has left on Americans had distinct effects on everyone. How can we argue when the families of those on board think the time is now? That morning still rings in our minds as if it were yesterday. We each have our own stories of where we were and what we were doing. Filmmaker Paul Greengrass has not only crafted a film, but an experience, that is heart wrenching and fueled with emotion. It left me speechless and riveted.

It started out as a beautiful autumn day with the weather clear, except for some fog on the West Coast. The film begins with a look at the Quoran, as one of the terrorists reads from it, and the others prepare for the days events alongside him. As the story of the Flight 93 passengers unfold, there are sequences depicting the events inside the National Air Traffic Control Station, as well as the airport tower in Newark, and the military command center. The day seems to go just like normal until a mysterious radio transmission from flight American 11 is uttered into one employee's earpiece. It had been a long time since the last hijacking took place. By the time they analyze the tapes of that transmission and the military is informed of the situation, smoke is seen coming from the World Trade Center.

Meanwhile, the passengers begin to board Flight 93 without knowing one another, or what is about to occur. The pilots have met for the first time, and the flight attendants converse about where they would rather be. The travelers take their seats, and wait, as the plane is delayed, begins to taxi, and eventually takes off. In the National Air Traffic Control Center, and the other buildings addressing the planes, the lack of communication causes confusion. More aircrafts become silent, and the workers attempt to separate actual hijackings from suspected ones. At the FAA, Ben Sliney orders the shutdown of all flights coming and going from American soil. The circumstances seem hopeless at the military command center as they wait for presidential authorization to take action. Two jets that take off go too far east, and two others are not even armed.

Inside United 93, every movement and every facial expression of the terrorists is examined by viewers. One goes to the bathroom, straps a bomb around his waist, and hides it within his jacket. They start to get impatient, but must wait until they're all in agreement to spring into action. One charges a flight attendant, and demands that she get the attention of the pilots to enter the cockpit. They take control of the plane, and the passengers watch in horror.

The events of United 93 progress in real time. There are no backgrounds on any person, no voiceovers, and no familiar faces. The actors will be relatively new to the audience, and for this story, it could not have been handled any other way. Each actor who portrayed an individual on Flight 93 studied their counterparts diligently. Some characters actually played themselves, such as Ben Sliney and certain military personnel. No performance rises above any others because every actor is genuinely brilliant. However, it is difficult to ignore the unbelievable determination and fear in the faces of the terrorists. It clearly evident that everyone involved put their hearts and souls into this tormenting and absorbing project. I am reminded of the article about 2005's Munich that stated how emotional it was to film certain scenes. I can only imagine what transpired during this film.

The terrorists are not caricatures of villains, but real people who had a set mission. United 93 is flawless as it establishes the connection of those aboard the plane. British filmmaker Paul Greengrass (The Bourne Identity and The Bourne Supremacy) wrote and directed this film with a visceral sense of accuracy that is undeniable. One might suspect that this film would have a sole hero on board, but that couldn't be further from the truth. Politics thankfully do no enter the picture, and without them, moviegoers are not divided, but linked. Greengrass wisely does not take sides, and does not abuse the events. As a matter of fact, the date is never mentioned, nor is any anything else that was learned afterwards. He remains straight and steady with a routine approach that is unsettling and tough to watch, but mesmerizing all the same. He is not poetic or overdramatic, but powerful and terrifying.

This is not just a recreation of one tragic flight, but a comprehensive and alert gaze into many details of 9/11. It is as if we are a fellow employee of the Air Traffic Control Center or another passenger on the plane. That is how unfeigned and honest this vision develops. The documentary shooting style that Greengrass utilizes aides in generating a taut, startling, and uncontrollable atmosphere that is agonizing, yet hypnotizing. The views inside the cockpit are remarkable. John Powell's score is subtle and eerie, but only presents itself at precise moments. The music does not tempt our emotions, but restores the same sentiments that were felt five years ago. As the second plane explodes into the World Trade Center, United 93 becomes more than just a film.

What worried me about this film was whether or not it would be depressing. In 2000's The Perfect Storm, I appreciated the film, but the ending left me in a state of persistent unhappiness. That movie also depicted an event in which many lives were lost. The difference lies in the fact that A Perfect Storm was a funeral, and United 93 is a tribute. The transitory character development is a positive, and it prevents the viewers from growing too attached. Maybe you have read about this flight, and maybe you haven't. While you might know what the ending is, you do not know how the ending is handled. You will wrap your arms around a loved one and be grateful of the precious time you share.

The final moments of United 93 are somewhat improvised, but unwavering with an indisputable impression of realism. While the workers on the ground are frantic to find solutions, the frightened people in the air become increasingly nervous, terrified, and heroic through it all. They thwarted the plans for an aircraft to crush the Capitol Building, cause more damage, and lose more lives. This film leaves an imprint embedded on your heart. The mood after the film concludes is absolute silence, and the images are impossible to forget. United 93 is an intense and extraordinary work of genius that is not only one of the best films of the year, but one of the most significant pieces of cinema ever made.