UNITED 93

I’m not even sure how to review a movie like this. There was no doubt in mind I would see it and review it, but from the moment I stepped in the theatre lobby, questions arose.

Such as – “do I really want to bring popcorn and nachos into this?” I mean we all know how this ends – it doesn’t seem “appropriate” (there I go hand wringing) to be munching away while about forty people contemplate their deaths.

That’s about as much as I got stuck in that gear – I was completely over the “is it too soon arguments” and was focused for the film to start. But I have to be honest, from beginning to end I had a knot in my stomach.

To say this movie “captures” the reality of that day is an understatement. With little fanfare and, thank God, no “stars” in the lead roles, we get right into things. The four Flight 93 highjackers are shown waking up and preparing for their mission quietly and somberly – this may sound creepy, but they knew it was their day to die. And even though we know they do follow through, just try for a moment to imagine their hesitations, not only about their deaths, but also as to whether or not they can actually pull this off.

Next up is the unsuspecting crew members and passengers, going through their routines and preparations. The effect here is to capture them “off mic” with random conversation bits, just people going about their day. Since you know what is to come, it’s all the more devastating to know this is the end – they have lost the most tragic “flight lottery” in our nations history and they have no idea.

As things unfold, the film focuses on the flights that were commandeered first – the planes that hit the Trade Center towers and eventually the one that struck the Pentagon. The action switches to several air traffic control centers, the most relevant of which is the FAA national operations center. The man in charge there is Ben Sliney, who, remarkably, is playing himself. Almost as stunning, that was his first day in charge. Wow – what a welcome! Ben is incredulous when told planes may be highjacked – the prevalent comment is that that never happens anymore. The next reaction is that they will make demands and land the planes somewhere. All logical – all wrong. These were competent people, but they had no idea what was happening just as none of us did. When the first plane hits the North Tower, they believe reports that it was a small plane – even though the infamous Flight 11 out of Boston is missing from the radar screen.

I was riveted and almost didn’t want the action to return to Flight 93, because I have often wondered what the reaction from the government was that day – of course, sad to say, our military was unprepared as well. Again, competent people were in charge at NORAD, our main response center, but the lines of communication and the lack of a playbook for an event like this left us a bit like the FEMA Hurricane Katrina response.

Back on board Flight 93, the madmen are about to strike, and the movie rises to new levels. The lead highjacker is tense, almost paralyzed, while his “strongman” is ready to go. Those who say “knowing what is going to happen can ruin the suspense” were never so wrong. I tightened and couldn’t stand it – some people left the theatre. It was realistic and sad and fascinating all at once as those sickos take the cockpit.

Armed with a phony bomb, they keep the larger group of passengers at bay while disabling the crew upfront. You have no idea how many times I have gone over in my mind what those people experienced on all those planes that fateful day, and, every now and then, I still do. Obviously, some of this is speculation, but it all seemed so plausible. Certain scenes will touch you in different ways – personally, when a few passengers use their cell phones to say their “goodbyes”, I was very moved. One woman has to do it by voice mail and I can’t get that image out of my mind.

Like most of you, I couldn’t wait until they made their move, even with the sad results. It was brave and heroic, but once they realized this was a suicide mission, what choice did they have? They were everyday folks put in one incredibly difficult situation. I will think about this one for a while – it goes without saying this movie is not for everyone (duh!) and I even find it weird to assign a “rating” to it, but it was a “10.0” for me. As much as it is a tribute to the passengers of “United 93”, it is also a painstaking, detailed work of honesty.