Reflections on “United 93″

• It feels almost impossible and, perhaps, inappropriate to approach the film from a distance, analytically.
• I feel pummelled, beaten, sore…as if I've smashed headlong into the ground.
• The film effectively conveys the tedious, wearing confusion that evidently reigned that day as different units of the government tried to understand what was happening.
• I was reminded of a good friend's faith, and the comfort the passengers' religion provided them, as I watched them recite the Lord's Prayer in the face of the inevitable.
• This scene became even more powerful as it expanded to include the terrorists whispering their own prayers.
• Other memorable images:
  • Exterior shots of the plane at take-off and the image of cabin door being locked down: feeling trapped, set on a course with only one end.
  • Older, greying passenger immediately reminded me of my mother.
  • In the midst of the confusion and anger, at least a small handful of the passengers decided to take action, to do something.
  • The disbelief on the traffic controllers' faces as their eyes shift from the blip on their monitors to the plane in the distance, angling directly into the second tower.
• The director was smart to cast the film with generally unknown character actors…this prevents the audience from distancing itself from the material and focusing on a "star's" performance.  It also facilitates identification with one or more of the characters and situations presented.

Addendum: Sneakeasy's Joint offers somewhat similar reflections on U93 and provides a useful link to George Will's column arguing why everyone should see the film.

Technorati tags: films, movies, United 93