World Trade Center

The second film this year to chronicle events that occurred on Sept. 11, 2001, World Trade Center is really a tribute to the firemen and police officers who risked their lives by running into those towers to help the people still inside. Port Authority officers John McLoughlin and Will Jimeno were trapped under the rubble for days after the collapse and were two of the last people to be pulled out. As they waited helplessly for any sign of a rescue party, their wives waited fearfully for word on whether or not they were still alive. Earlier this year, Paul Greengrass’ United 93 followed many characters during the attack—both on the ground and in the air—and employed the energetic use of hand-held cameras. With World Trade Center, director Oliver Stone does just the opposite. Like a classic Hollywood filmmaker, he uses broad strokes on a big canvas; however, the story he is telling is intimate. Ultimately, it’s about two men trying to stay alive so that they might see their families again. Whereas United 93 realistically placed us back into the chaos of that day, World Trade Center seems more like a reminder of the heroism that those horrific events brought out. It's not nearly as engaging or interesting, but it's still a decent enough picture.

Directed by Oliver Stone.
Written by Andrea Berloff.
Starring Nicolas Cage, Michael Peña, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Maria Bello, Stephen Dorff and Jay Hernandez.

Rated PG-13 for intense and emotional content, some disturbing images and language. 129 min.

*** so says The Fish