|
"World Trade Center" the movie |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Written by McClatchy-Tribune
|
|
Friday, 04 August 2006 |
|
|
|
|
 WORLD TRADE CENTER
3 ½ stars
With Nicolas Cage, Michael Pena, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Maria Bello.
Directed by Oliver Stone.
Running time: 2:05. PG-13: language, disturbing images.
As we watched the twin towers collapse on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, it seemed a case of life imitating art — the images looked like scenes from a disaster movie.
Now, with Oliver Stone's "World Trade Center," art is imitating life, and in completing the circle, Stone shows the transcendent power of film to capture the moment.
"WTC" is not the first great Sept.-11 movie — that distinction goes to Paul Greengrass' "United 93," released earlier this year — but it's the first one that taps into the main emotional vein of that day.
Politics and division came later; on Sept.-11, Americans were united in the single hope that survivors would be found.
As it turned out, only 20 people would walk, crawl or be pulled out of the rubble, and "WTC" focuses on two of the last — Port Authority Officers John McLoughlin (Nicolas Cage) and Will Jimeno (Michael Penal).
After scenes establishing the calm under a dawning blue sky over New York, "WTC" follows McLoughlin and Jimeno from their homes in New York and New Jersey into the routine of their jobs, and then — as first responders — into the twin towers.
Just as Jim Cameron put us aboard the Titanic and took us down with the ship, Stone puts us in the WTC with John and Will and — except for essential and heartrending visits with their concerned and increasingly panicked families, and rescue attempts from above — keeps us there.
It's as harrowing as moviegoing gets; the sound of the imploding towers is numbing, and the fear felt by the trapped officers as millions of tons of debris crashes around them is palpable.
Cage and Pena, doing most of their acting from their necks up and in near dark, are completely convincing as men trying to help each other stay awake and alive, and the anxieties and near-hysteria of their wives are conveyed with heartrending conviction by Maria Bello and Maggie Gyllenhaal.
This as uncomplicated a movie as Stone ("Born on the 4th of July," "JFK") has made, and one of his most powerful. Look closely at the last scene, of a staged reunion two years after Sept.-11, and you'll see the actors meet the characters they play.
It's a nice touch.
| Only registered users can write comments.
Please login or register. |
|
|  | "Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost. That is Alchemy's first law of Equivalent Exchange. In those days, we really believed that to be the world's one, and only truth." | |
|  | We're not that bright, even though in our own little world, we're geniuses. We like 80s hair bands and one-hit wonders, but among us we have respectable tastes, too. Metallica, Iron Maiden, U2. Pursuit of all things trivial is a lifestyle, not just a game. We like some sports, love other sports, and can find something to say about anything. We watch TV and movies and we've read a book or two, even a few classics (Yes, Classic Comics count!)
We call it insight, you call it what you will. | |
|  | Felix Wong is an outdoor enthusiast living in Fort Collins. A mechanical engineer by day, he is especially passionate about bicycling, running, and backpacking. | |
|  | Hola Amigos! I'm Sandra. I like to believe that people are 70 percent good and 30 percent dumb. I'm stickin to that story. Reading this blog might make you want to be good, but probably just dumb. | |
|  | Donovan Henderson is editor of NEXTnc. | |
|  | Here at Nextnc we have some characters. Get a sneak peak behind the curtain and find out what amusing antics our staffers get themselves into on a weekly basis. | |
|  | What is up FoCo?
I am a recent college graduate of Minnesota State University Moorhead. After recieving my B.A. in English and Mass Communications this past August I moved down to Colorado.
I enjoy long walks on the beach, candlelight dinners, and heavy metal. My hobbies include reading and writing, music, movies, and getting drunk. Some of my favorite contemporary authors include Bret Easton Ellis, Chuck Palahniuk, and Kurt Vonnegut. My top movies are anything directed by Kubrick. I enjoy listening to anything that rocks.
Right now I am just trying to get to know Colorado and FoCo better. Mostly in order to find the best drink specials on each day that ends in Y. So if you know where I can get a cheap drunk on, let me know!
--Drew | |
|  | Life's little morsels of inspiration, observation and encouragement seen through the eyes of the Nextnc reporter.
| |
|  | Ms. Giles currently lives in Colorado where she stars in her own private reality show. She writes aphoristic accounts of her life, taken completely out of context, and embellished with characters and situations disguised to resemble something close to interesting. | |
|  | over and out | |
| | My name is Michelle Turley and I'm 28 years old. I live in Severance with my hubbie, Brandon. We have 2 dogs and a cat. We enjoy camping, four-wheeling, and just being in the mountains. I like to cook, clean (go figure), flea market, and play poker. I have so much to say about poker... | |
|
|
