United 93 (R)

On September 11, 2001, one of the darkest days in American history, the country suffered the loss of nearly 3,000 people. Three out of the four hi-jacked planes that crashed reached their target. The fourth plane never succeeded in it’s plans to hit the state capital, thanks to a group of complete strangers. The events that took place on board that plane are captured with unbelievable power.

This is United 93.

There was quite a bit of controversy regarding the film United 93, mostly because people weren’t sure if America was ready to revisit that fateful day just six six earlier. It’s hard to say that this film was “entertaining” the same way I would say that something fictional is “entertaining”, but it is an action packed movie. The movie begins quite similar to how that morning began. People getting ready for work, pilots chit chatting about what they would be doing that day. But multiple camera shots of terrorists reciting their prayers to their god reminded me what this film is really about. And so, until the actual hi jacking took place, the butterflies in my stomach were rattling uncontrollably.

I expected the anxiety to stop, but after the hi jacking, it got more intense. The way that the director, Paul Greengrass, shoots the movie, makes you feel like one of the passengers. In fact, all the way until the very end, I felt like I was doing nothing but looking over the shoulders of the various passengers as they try and figure out what to do. It’s powerful stuff. This review is a bit short, but I think I have an excuse: I was floored by the film. Unlike other movies about American tragedies such as Pearl Harbor, this one feels real. It’s cinematography is not beautiful to look at, nor does it provide the distracting faces of celebrities. United 93 provides, for once, a raw experience of those very disasters that are turned into what we often label as “cool movies” instead of powerful experiences that actually give you an honest interpretation of what happened.

There’s not enough I can say about United 93, except for it’s undeniable importance in the recollection of that tragic day, and a sobering testament it is to the bravery of each and every one of the passengers aboard United 93.

I would like to end with a quote from David Beamer, father of Todd Beamer, the leader of the group who tried to re take the plane. “Clearly there are people who aren’t ready to see this,” the elder Beamer said, “I certainly understand that, and that’s their decision to make. But we must not forget.”

10 American heroes out of 10

United 93 is rated R for language, and some intense sequences of terror and violence.

Review by Jason Holland