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United 93 (2006) Universal
Pictures, 1 hr. 55 mins.
Starring:
Christian Clemenson, David Alan Basche, Denny Dillon, Richard Bekins, John
Rothman, Cheyenne Jackson
Directed by:
Paul Greengrass |
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Sometimes one tends to wonder about
what great lengths it must take to do evil in the name of whatever holy
cause one is championing at the moment. As unpredictable creatures, human
beings are capable of many critical self-destructive tendencies as we all
are understandably flawed and frustrated living organisms. But when that
fateful morning on September 11, 2001 transpired as people nationally and
worldwide went about their usual business in the name of survival, an
incomprehensible shock wave would startle the fragile American psyche as
the harrowing political consequences would change the cynical fiber of our
freedom-oriented flexibility forever.
Acclaimed British filmmaker Paul Greengrass (“Bloody Sunday”, “The Bourne
Supremacy”) oversees a raw and riveting theatrical account of what many
consider one of the most tragic modern-day events in American (if not
human) history—the terrorist airline attacks. Of course this would
undoubtedly give an ugly face in distinction to the infamous date of
September 11, 2001. In the gut-wrenching docu-drama United 93,
writer-director Greengrass captures the unflinching drama with a
heartbreaking urgency about the doomed victims that would perish on an
unassuming day at the hands of methodical maniacs looking to place a
spotlight on their self-serving philosophical fanaticism. Intense, numbing
and disturbingly surreal, United 93 is perhaps one of the most
confrontational and courageous piece of significant entertainment that one
will ponder with lingering potent inquisitiveness.
Some may argue that Greengrass has an exploitative agenda in revisiting a
horrific footnote in American current events that will soon be approaching
its dubious fifth year anniversary. However, others will contend that
United 93 is a dignified but daunting reminder to the contemporary crisis
that gives fuel to our on-going concerns about terrorism and religious
scrutiny that overwhelms us in today’s volatile climate. More important,
United 93 may indeed be a big screen tribute to the thousands of men,
women and children that succumbed to the senseless and sensational acts of
demented souls that wanted the world’s undivided attention for their
vicious yet visceral exorcise in ritualistic dominance.
As sickening and frightening as our disenchantment was concerned on
September 11th, those of us that were breathing air at the time knew what
the dire circumstances were on that particular date—terrorists skillfully
hijacked four commercial airplanes in an ambitious attempt to destroy a
few selected major American landmarks. By the same token, this would put
an exclamation mark on how “the mighty and privileged westernized world of
America” can just as easily feel the wrath of religious extremists as much
as a tampered Middle Eastern country could experience. Essentially by
attacking America (caustically nicknamed “The Big Satan”) on its
unsuspecting soil, these opportunistic tyrants could make a hostile
political statement out of random reckless grandeur in an elaborate effort
to give new life to their prominence.
Specifically, Greengrass concentrates his engrossing cinematic efforts on
the conscientious passengers of United Airlines Flight 93—the only flight
(thankfully) not to crash into its intended target (presumably the White
House). As known now, the Flight 93 flyers were well aware of the Al-Qaeda
sabotaging agents and their wicked intentions. Acting heroically, the
passengers thwarted the four terrorists from completing their mundane
mission. Sadly, the brave and bold passengers knew of their dreadful fate
and settled for the realization that their lives would end drastically. As
a result of their quick actions, the
plane-turned-into-a-transporting-massive-weapon would never reach its
desired destination as schemed by the tactical terrorists. Instead, Flight
93 would slam into the lonely fields near Shanksville, PA. And although
the lifeless scattered bodies would signify the ruins of wasted life, the
valiant deed to eliminate the possibilities of having other innocent folks
die prematurely at the mercy of cowardly scoundrels was indescribably
gracious and patriotic in gesture.
Diligently, Greengrass has a disciplined and commanding knack for laying
out the blueprint for what would amount to be a day in infamy for a
disillusioned country that would lick its wounds for years to come.
There’s something stimulating about the way Greengrass displays the
ordinary routine of the working people preparing for a day that a majority
of them won’t live to see develop due to the grimness that’s about to
confront them. Even the airline captors are shown going through the daily
motions before their insidious notions are executed. Granted that we all
know what that early September morning would lead to eventually—the sheer
madness and insanity that would cap off a raging plethora of powerful
confusion and resentment.
What seems so authentic about United 93 is the manner in which Greengrass
packages his narrative with a realistic feel for the turning of events.
This includes casting the movie (in real time) with relatively unknown
actors and some real-life FAA and airline personnel that were involved
with this unforgettable episode in human despair. Reportedly, Greengrass
consulted with the family and friends of the late passengers where they
were giving their cooperative input from everything having to do with
private phone conversations as the endangered flyers described the ominous
scenario at hand. The understanding that these sacrificial lambs were
going to the slaughter knowing that they could still make a difference and
prevent further harm for others being targeted is so sobering in
forethought. From the time that the passengers board Flight 93 as the crew
welcomes their patronage you muster up a sizable lump in your throat.
The unstructured damage that ensues builds up to something beyond anyone’s
wild imagination. Everything is in frenzied shambles—the FAA and Air Force
command centers are perplexed by the whole breakdown in helplessness. As
outlets such as CNN engage the shocked viewers in the tumbling affairs
that abound, we’re shown repeated sequences of the other airline disasters
(the World Trade Center and the Pentagon) that immediately penetrate our
frazzled mindsets. In the meanwhile, air traffic controllers are weakened
by the lateness to react to the deadly occurrences. The reality was
grotesque: the midair prisoners aboard Flight 93 will soon join the
hysteria by overpowering their terrorizing oppressors en route to a grisly
ending.
For those that still endure the stinging aftermath of 9/11—and that’s
plenty of us for certain—the penetrating sorrow and anger that is reserved
for the weariness of that maddening day will be awakened by the necessity
of United 93’s stark reenactment. Aggressively filled with emotional
unrest and noted disorientation, Greengrass’s agonizing exposition is an
inspiring and rewarding wake up call for those that especially seek
shelter in avoiding the stone cold truth—that we as citizens of the
deteriorating world are living in a grossly distrusting era. |
