United 93 "A"

We Have To Do Something . . .

I like many other Americans didn’t really want to see “United 93”. No, it wasn’t because it was too soon. Or because it would be Hollywood exploitation. Or even that it would be a flag waving exercise. I think it was because of the anger I still feel that the events of 9/11 happened and that five years later we still haven’t caught the person responsible. But I digress.

After seeing this film get named as one of the years best on several lists I decided it was time to see it. Where should I start? First off, Writer/Director Paul Greengrass has made an absolute marvelous film. Nowhere do you see flag waving or even political overtones in this expertly crafted piece of filmmaking.

Before I go further, let me remind you that we all know what happens in the end. But yet the story expertly chronicles the disbelief, turned mayhem of that day. The decision to use mostly unknowns in the roles was genius as it really drove home the point that these people were ordinary everyday people that we see a million times on airplanes that were somehow put into an extraordinary situation. And it really begs the question, what would you do?

The story not only takes place on the airplane but at various air traffic control centers and military bases. We get to see how it was first recognized that we were being attacked and let me tell you it was pretty chilling. The fact that most of the roles of the air traffic controllers and the military personnel were played by the actual people themselves and not by actors lent an amazing realism to the events.

But the airplane sequences are the most potent. The hand held style of the camera was just right as there wasn’t tons of frantic movement. The camera angles effectively puts the viewer right at the same level with the passengers and that really drives the emotions home. The way the passengers realize that this is not an ordinary high-jacking (are they ever ordinary?) and turn their attention on doing something to stop them shows the resolve of the human spirit at it’s finest. The last 15 minutes of this movie is some of the most harrowing and bone chilling footage ever put on film. Just thinking about it sends shivers down my spine. I was hoping that somehow, someway they would gain control of the plane and that it wouldn’t crash.

The high-jackers were not portrayed as stereotypes but as conflicted human beings. It can be very easy to vilify these terrorists as fundamentalist wackos (which they were) but the one thing that all westerners must remember is that these people are totally convinced they are right and just. They have a different belief system and even though we don’t believe, understand or recognize it, they still have it. I believe that schools should show this movie and that every kid should see it and ask questions. I also think that it should be moderated so that these kids don’t come out with a one dimensional hatred of all Muslims. they should understand that there are fundamentalist radicals in EVERY single religion on Earth and that they should not blame or hate an entire race because of the actions of some of them.

Every American should see this movie and get their heads out of the sand. Ask many questions. Become informed. It’s never soon enough.