United 93

What to say about a movie that couldn't even fill a test audience theater... It was not as powerful as I thought it would be, and I didn't cry. But my chin trembled, and I was left with a hollow, empty feeling in my chest. It wasn't heart wrenching, it was bitterly true. I drove home in silence, my radio turned off, not capable of breaking the spell. What I liked... This is a movie about heroes, not doubt, and you're not human if your heart doesn't swell with pride as you see your fellow Americans defending their homeland in the only way they can. Of course it's impossible to know everything that happened on that fated plane, but the closer to climax the movie becomes, the more you really know since that's when the desperate, heart breaking phone calls occurred. I also learned so much about the background of that day, flight control, military, the overwhelming helplessness of lack of information and towering confusion. No one was demonized in this movie, including the hijackers. They were portrayed as scared, devoutly religious human beings. They were men who believed in what they were doing. That added truth to the movie that anything less could not have done. The passengers of United 93 were nothing but human, and (I think) portrayed well. The audience... The theater was not half full, but by the end og the film, it was dead silent but for a few random sniffles. When the passengers rushed the hijackers, someone started clapping. Noone joined them, but the sound didn't seem out of place to me, but a lone tribute. I think the only thing I didn't like about the picture is my own anal, analytical point of view. With CNN playing in the background of the military and control scenes, I couldn't help but notice that the appearance of the Twin Towers followed no time line. Two now, then one, now two again. Intentional mistake? Screw up? Who knows. Would I recommend this film? I don't know. But if you're going to see it, see it in the theater or on a damn big screen with surround sound. This one is huge.