Posted on 05/08/2006 8:41:12 AM PDT by blitzgig
WASHINGTON -- In most movies made to convey dread, the tension flows from uncertainty about what will happen. In ``United 93,'' terror comes from knowing exactly what will happen. People who associate cinematic menace with maniacs wielding chain saws will find that there can be an almost unbearable menace in the quotidian -- in the small talk of passengers waiting in the boarding area with those who will murder them, in the routine shutting of the plane's door prior to push-back from the gate at Newark Airport on Sept. 11.
But two uncertainties surrounded ``United 93'': Would it find an audience? Should it?
It has found one, which is remarkable, given that in 2005 most moviegoers -- 57 percent -- were persons 12 to 29 years old. Twenty-nine percent were persons 12 to 24. These age cohorts do not seek shattering, saddening experiences to go with their popcorn. In its first weekend, ``United 93'' was the second most watched movie, with the top average gross per theater among major releases. It was on 1,795 screens, and 71 percent of viewers were 30 or older.
To the long list of Britain's contributions to American cinema -- Charles Chaplin, Bob Hope, Cary Grant, Stan Laurel, Deborah Kerr, Vivien Leigh, Maureen O'Hara, Ronald Colman, David Niven, Boris Karloff, Alfred Hitchcock and others -- add Paul Greengrass, writer and director of ``United 93.'' He imported into Hollywood the commodity most foreign to it: good taste. This is especially shown in the ensemble of unknown character actors, and non-actors who play roles they know -- a real pilot plays the pilot, a former flight attendant plays the head flight attendant -- and several persons who play on screen the roles they played on 9/11.
Greengrass' scrupulosity is evident in the movie's conscientious, minimal and minimally speculative departures from the facts about the flight that were painstakingly assembled for the ``The 9/11 Commission Report.'' This is emphatically not a ``docu-drama'' such as Oliver Stone's execrable ``JFK,'' which was ``history'' as a form of literary looting in which the filmmaker used just enough facts to lend a patina of specious authenticity to tendentious political ax-grinding.
A New York Times Story on the ``politics of heroism" deals with the question of whether the movie is ``inclusive." Well, perhaps ``United 93" did violate some egalitarian nicety by suggesting that probably not all the passengers were equally heroic. Amazingly, no one has faulted the movie for ethnic profiling: All the hijackers are portrayed as young, fervently devout Islamic males. Report Greengrass to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.
In a movie as spare and restrained as its title, the only excess is the suggestion, itself oblique, that the government responded even more confusedly that morning than was to be expected. Most government people, like the rest of us, were in the process of having their sense of the possible abruptly and radically enlarged.
Going to see ``United 93'' is a civic duty because Samuel Johnson was right: People more often need to be reminded than informed. After an astonishing 56 months without a second terrorist attack, this nation perhaps has become dangerously immune to astonishment. The movie may quicken our appreciation of the measures and successes -- many of which must remain secret -- that have kept would-be killers at bay.
The editors of National Review were wise to view ``United 93'' in the dazzling light still cast by a Memorial Day address, ``The Soldier's Faith,'' delivered in 1895 by a veteran of Ball's Bluff, Antietam and other Civil War battles. Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. said why understanding that faith is important:
``In this snug, over-safe corner of the world ... we may realize that our comfortable routine is no eternal necessity of things, but merely a little space of calm in the midst of the tempestuous untamed streaming of the world, and in order that we may be ready for danger. ... Out of heroism grows faith in the worth of heroism.''
The message of the movie is: We are all potential soldiers. And we all may be, at any moment, at the war's front, because in this war the front can be anywhere.
The hinge on which the movie turns are 13 words that a passenger speaks, without histrionics, as he and others prepare to rush the cockpit, shortly before the plane plunges into a Pennsylvania field. The words are: ``No one is going to help us. We've got to do it ourselves.'' Those words not only summarize this nation's situation in today's war, but also express a citizen's general responsibilities in a free society.
Yep
I just hope that some of the people that needed to see it saw it, or someone took them. Why do some people need the knife at their own throat to understand Islamo-facism?
It should be at the top of the box office. I hope all will go see it. It's a tribute to the passenger heroes.
See it to honor them.
Words as memorable as "Let's Roll".
This movie is a must see. All of us owe it those brave men and women who were the truly the best America has to offer.
Rush was right about everyone leaving in dead silence and more than a few of us with tear-stained cheeks and a wad of tissues in our hands.
My husband was remarking that there were not "many people in the audience." I told him that on a beautiful Saturday morning, many people were too busy doing their "Soccer mom/dad" runs, shopping and other weekend activities.
Considering there has been absolutely a media dead silence regarding the usual movie hype, i.e. RV, Mission Impossible (whatever), etc. and the few movie houses showing this film, I think that the word is out in a number of circles.
Although, I was disappointed when I was speaking with my police officer neighbor and told him how great the movie was, his response: "I just don't think that I'm ready do deal with that yet" and "Isn't it pretty violent."
I asked him if he had seen such and such movie, his 10 year old said yes and he had seen it too, then I said, "You know, this movie isn't as 'violent' as most television shows and that every adult should see it."
Just don't expect this movie to win any awards from the Hollywoodians.
During one of the catored in lunch times during our meeting... he tearfully told us about the day. Loosing friends. And cried when he talked about going down the stairs while firemen were going up them.
I haven't seen the movie.... but I know it will just galvanize my opinion that we should have nuked about half of the middle east after 9-11.
It's a must! When friends asked me my opinion, I could only say there's alot of "Heroism & Hatred" mixed together. Let's roll takes your breath away!
I saw it with my son. It was awesome, reminded me of what extraordinary heroism there is in the ordinary American citizen.
Do not be chagrined at the attendance. You are in a group that is intellectual and aware. Only sometimes are there going to be a lot of people in your category.
The only real media exposure I've seen about this movie, besides the trailers, have been the stories of, "Is it just too soon for this movie?" There is a concerted campaign to keep attendance down.
Yep, other than seeing the local FOX affiliate talking heads on the morning/evening news was pretty much the same "Is it too soon" parroting the MSM and talk radio (Rush and Hannity) stations asking question of listeners, most of callers I heard thought just the opposite of "too soon" they thought that everyone had gone back to business as usual, and have bought into the "Bush's War" bs.
I think that you will see a high number of rentals for this movie when it's released on DVD. I think many will be more comfortable watching at home. I hope in the long run that means lots of people will see the movie.
I think we are probably going to find this out before too long. Thanks to able work by many folks, we haven't had another attack since then. But the Muslims are planning and scheming even as we speak; remember, it took them several years after their first attempt to destroy the WTC to come back and do it again. Some of us will be ready, but sadly, a lot of us still won't be.
The very success of Bush's activities since 9/11 have allowed people to forget, devote themselves to quibbling and politics, and move into a serious state of denial. I hope at least some of those people see this truly excellent film and are reminded of what cold and completely ruthless killers we are up against.
Hmm, Maureen O'Hara was born in Dublin Ireland, and would likely take great umbrage at being called British. Although she was an honor student at the London School of Music.
I saw the movie opening weekend. Major impact. I've never seen such grim faces and lack of conversation on the folks as they exited the theater.
But then again, who cares about that?
I saw it yesterday. It is everything they said it was. A Painful reminder, but one we all need.
I mentioned that I saw it to my liberal/socialist office cubical neighbor and his reply was, " Flight 93 and Mission Impossible III are two movies I could care less about seeing". Typical liberal tripe.
I see this image of the 3 "see, hear, speak no evil monkeys". They should replace the image of the donkey for their party.
I would have to agree with him on MI 3 though. Shows even this guy with an "H in 08" window sticker on his car may have at least a couple of brain cells still functioning.
Saw it last night with my wife, and the audience reaction was as you describe.
It brought back that horrible day just like it was yesterday.
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