The terrible events of September the 11th 2001 are still very fresh in minds of most people. It really is this generations “where were you when you heard the news” moment. Therefore, even though several years have passed, the making of this film does tread very carefully on some rather raw nerves.
That being said, it’s not overly dramatic and really doesn’t take a particular side. Instead just goes about setting out the facts of what we know happened on that tragic day. Of the 4 planes that were hijacked on 9/11, Flight United 93 was the only one not to reach it’s intended target, either the White House, or the Capitol building.
Although events can’t be crystal clear, it seems that the passengers on Flight 93 decided to try and take back control of the plane from the terrorists before it was too late. If you were to judge this film out of context, you’d think it was little more than a TV Movie of the Week. The production values aren’t high, the acting in some places is wooden and it certainly doesn’t have the typical happy ending we’d expect. But taking this film out of context is not a luxury afforded to us. It’s always at the forefront of your mind that these are real events, that happened to real people and there are real families out there still directly coping with the repercussions of what happened. More than once the conversations from the passengers to their loved ones bring a lump to the throat. This adds an overwhelming sense of dread and emotion to Flight 93. You already know the ending before you start watching but, if anything, that simply adds to the films impact.
A lazier director could have simply played up the “Hero” element of the passengers, into a flag waving work on national pride. Instead Bourne Director, Paul Greengrass delivers a powerful film that reduces the story back to a simple tale of great bravery in the fact of horrific circumstances. The only question United 93 asks is, what would you do in this situation?
For the simple fact that the film doesn’t shy away from, or sugar coat the events, it’s a 4 out of 5.