United 93

Juicelog Wed 310506: Dan E. and myself went to watch United 93 tonight. United 93 is a docu-drama of the events that took place on board the last plane to be hi-jacked on 9/11. It is shot in real time and one of the great things about this film is that Paul Greengrass (Director) skilfully puts you on board of that plane whilst showing the chaos on the ground as the events unfold. This is important because Greengrass says something about those nonsensical conspiracy theories about the government shooting down the plane.

But more importantly what Greengrass does is he offers a genuine celebration of the heroism of the passengers on that plane who fought back against the terrorists. The film ends with a silence which signifies its moral purpose and the noble cause that took place.

In airplane thrillers where all the people die we are usually allowed to get to know the characters and to have an emotional investment so that we then care. But Greengrass doesn’t do that and he’s right not to do so. Instead we’re not quite sure who’s being stabbed even though it’s terrifying.

About three quarters through the film I felt quite sick due to the shakyness of the camerawork. During the moments when I wasn’t feeling so queasy I did find the film very gripping and affecting, but it didn’t tell me anything I didn’t already know and this is where I think the film lacks some intellectual depth. There is a lot of emotional truth but what I really wanted to know was why did these people take it upon themselves to try and fly a plane into the Whitehouse.