Thursday, December 28, 2006

Films Of The Year - Number One!

UNITED 93

I'm almost shocked that a film about September 11th could be a film I like, let alone be hands-down the best thing I've seen all year - possibly of the last decade. On paper, any film about the atrocities that took place no more than 5 years ago should be a schmaltzy, American flag-waving piece of sentimental propaganda, and you'd have every right to expect that. The phrase "Too soon" was banded about like a rogue tennis ball, and expectations were not high.

Which turned out to be a good thing, as director Paul Greengrass seems to have purposely undercut any expectation we might have had, and just got on with the job of telling a story. If anyone were to make a film of 9/11 then you couldn't pick a better person than Greengrass. First off, being a Brit helps him come to this material with no other agenda than to tell the story; secondly, having already established himself with the devastating 'Bloody Sunday' (about the IRA attacks) and 'The Bourne Supremecy' puts him at the top of the list of directors who can tell a hyper-real story without prejudice.

'United 93' tells the lesser-known story of September 11th; the fourth hijacked plane that never reached it's target due to the passengers revolting against their captors and sending the aircraft crashing into a field. No one survived. The other 3 planes (2 in New York, 1 in Washington) took off at the same time United Airlines Flight 93 was meant to, but due to a delay it actually lifted off some 40 minutes later. Enough time for the passengers aboard to get news of the World Trade Centre attacks and figure out what their fate was. And so, armed with nothing more than forks and fire extinguishers, they rushed the cockpit and their enemies to try and retake control, fully aware they had little chance of succeeding.

Told in real-time, this film is a shocking, humbling experience that never once pulls at cliched heart-strings for dramatic effect. It simply tells the story. There are three main reasons that this is essential, if uncomfortable, viewing. Firstly, the director actively sought and spoke to the families of the victims of this flight, refusing to make the film unless they all supported it. A documentary included on the DVD shows that they did. Secondly, by casting almost completely unknowns (apart from key people playing themselves - ground control chief Ben Sliney and several stewardesses, all of whom were working on 9/11), we get to know the people for themselves instead of a portrayal. And thirdly, maybe most importantly, the truth of characterisation doesn't just apply to the passengers, as we are given true insight into the reasons and actions of the hijackers themselves.

At no point are we asked to sympathise with the terrorists, as what they did was beyond inhuman, but they're not painted as black-and-white villains either. More like real people performing an atrocious act for terrible reasons they believe in. And this is the key - nothing here is black-and-white, it's just what people went through on that plane on that day. I defy anyone to watch this film and feel nothing, as it doesn't beg for emotions from the audience but by being so blunt and real it gets them willingly.

Also worth noting is the documentary on the DVD depicting the actors going to meet the families of the people they're portraying, which is possibly the most uplifting and upsetting thing I have ever seen. Too soon for a film about 9/11? Not this one. And, to be honest, with this being as heart-wrenching, honest and brutal as it is, we don't ever need another one again.

1 Comments:

Blogger Jon said...

Ooh, haven't seen it yet. Yes, I would like to borrow it, thank you for asking. Wishful thinking at the end there, I feel, I'm sure there will be many more films on this subject in years to come, joy. Oh and yes, I did get some groovy presents, come to pub and maybe I'll tell you what they are.

10:56 AM  

Post a Comment

<< Home