Writer-director Paul Greengrass brings his hand-held documentary style to United 93, immersing the audience into first-hand accounts of the aircraft’s fatal flight nearly five years ago with grainy realism and intense sequences that forced my heart to palpitate. Remembering these events was hard, but by the end of the film I felt that I had been taken on a historically accurate and respectful account of what happened.
After his 2002 film Bloody Sunday, which shows the British massacre of Irish protest marchers on Jan. 30, 1972, Greengrass became known for his realistic portrayal of historical events. But most people probably know him for his commercial, summer blockbuster, The Bourne Supremacy.
Returning to form with United 93, Greengrass brings objectivity?without hindsight or bias?to United Airlines Flight 93’s fateful journey. By being objective he manages to make a superb film that is gripping, moving and very precise in its execution. Many events are thoroughly addressed: air traffic control, air defense, the Arab hijackers, the crew and the passengers of Flight 93. Only a couple names are ever mentioned, and no “stars” exist to take you out of the film. In fact, some of the people in United 93 play themselves, most notably Ben Sliney who was the national operations manager at the Federal Aviation Administration’s command center on 9/11. It was his first day on the job.
The ensemble cast contributes believability?it was ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances?to United 93. This includes the Arab hijackers who could have easily been stereotyped, thankfully they aren’t. There is an amazing and engaging parallel between the passengers and the hijackers in which both parties are praying to their interpretation of God, but clearly for entirely different reasons.
Whether or not the world is ready to move on from the events of 9/11 remains to be seen, but everyone remembers where they were, much like the assassination of JFK. United 93 does shed some light on the events as they could have occurred by brilliantly combining accuracy and care in telling this harrowing tale.
Greengrass told the studio heads at Universal that he wouldn’t make this film without the support of the families that lost their loved ones on Flight 93. I’m glad they listened to his demands because now this cinematic masterpiece will always be around for generations to remember the tale of the brave souls that gave their lives to stop the final, horrific tragedy that would have occurred on that fateful day?the destruction of the Capitol, or even the White House.
