Spread the news, United 93 is a truly revolutionary film. Upon first impressions, this stands as one of the most powerful, tasteful, and interesting films released in the past decade, and its dedication to accuracy is impressive. As the first film about one of the biggest tragedies this country has ever faced, United 93 passes the respectability test with flying colors. Add in the fact that the events of that fateful day occurred less than five years ago, and one must consider writer/director Greengrass's accomplishment a truly remarkable one.
A director faces a difficult situation when his film is being blasted and criticized before it is even released. As the pioneer in what will surely become a sub-category unto itself in the disaster films genre, Greengrass took careful precaution in crafting the first 9/11 film, and his dedication seems to have paid off.
I call this film revolutionary because it is the closest I've ever seen a film walk the line between documentaries and feature films. The result is an fascinating experiment in a new approach to making movies. The events are shown, they are not dramatized, they are not romanticized, or sensationalized, they are simply portrayed, as accurately possible. The hijackers and the hijacked are on equal footing in the sympathy department. I found myself almost pitying the terrorists as they were overcome with their religious fanaticism which led to them being essentially forced into a suicide mission in the name of their god. Greengrass has made the first film in which both sides are presented and the director is truly able to succeed in not taking sides. His genius in this department is beautifully portrayed in one of the final scenes in the film where both the hijackers and their captives pray on opposite ends of aircraft. The juxtaposition of these images provides an interesting insight into exactly what this film really sought to accomplish.
Greengrass's camerawork, while relying on the hand-held effect a little too much at times, ultimately assists in portraying the frantic and panicked nature of all the characters depicted, as well as setting the tone for the entire fateful day itself. And the director's choice of music also suits the piece beautifully. Opting for a simple, minimalist orchestral score that plays throughout only a small portion of the film seems to have been just the right amount to accent but not drown out the story.
Another aspect of the film which I really admired, whether intentional or not, was its casting. I literally only recognized one face in the entire cast, and even then I couldn't name him or place where I had seen him. (It ultimately turned out to be John Rothman who I knew from Dinner Rush). The fact that the cast consisted almost exclusively of unknowns only added to the feel of realism throughout the film. Add in the fact that several real life people involved in the events of 9/11 played themselves, and also that the actors chosen to play the major figures in the passenger resistance movement looked remarkably like their real-life counterparts, and the viewers truly felt as if they were there.
Another fascinating choice by Greengrass was to not take advantage of his post-knowledge of the events. Throughout the entire film, characters can be seen making false assumptions and relaying information to one another that was eventually proved to be incorrect. This, again, adds to the realism and sense of panicked confusion being portrayed in the film, and I really respected the fact that Greengrass took the time to include this.
One other difficult choice made by Greengrass was exactly how to go about showing the plane's final moments. It can be tough for a director when the audience already knows how the story will end, but Greengrass does it in a unique and truly emotional way that really tugs at your heart strings without being overdramatic.
Nearly everything about this film was perfectly in accordance to what Greengrass sought to achieve. Thought-provoking, deeply emotional, realistic. I truly do not feel as though a better film could've been made about this subject matter.
