The SBP Archives - Your less than frequent dose of SBP!

Movies that deliberately pull at your heartstrings aren't for everyone and World Trade Center does not pretend to be anything else. The true story of two Port Authority police officers trapped underneath the rubble of the Twin Towers, this movie wants the audience to feel for these guys, to see how evil can bring out the best and goodness of those who have suffered. And in my view, it does it very well.

Critic Roger Ebert asks the audience would we feel any different if it were a different tragedy, say, if it were a story of victims from the earthquakes that leveled Turkey? We cannot hide from our experiences and our knowledge when watching films. When we relive the horrific visions of the people jumping off the top floors of the World Trade Centre or the collapse of the buildings itself, we can't help but recall where we were, what we were doing and how we reacted to these events. No question, it is easier to tap into our emotions because these events happened so recently, but World Trade Center never feels fake or insincere, so the movie does what it is supposed to do and it can't be faulted for us having lived through 9/11.

Because this is a true story, there are some scenes that seem to hit the audience over the head with its complete lack of subtlety (then again, it is Oliver Stone). One scene that comes to mind is the vision of Jesus giving one of the trapped officers a bottle of water in the desert sun. A lot of people will watch this and say, "Give me a break!" But, if this is what the officers dreamt (or, more likely, hallucinated), how else could you film it? Scenes like this will likely divide some audiences on this picture.

I also admire this movie because trying to pull drama out of a situation were two guys cannot see each other, cannot move and are almost in complete darkness: how can you make this compelling? World Trade Center does not leave the camera on these two characters for the entire two hour running time, but still dedicates a large amount of screen time to them. And it is always engaging.

Oliver Stone opted to tell the story free from politics or conspiracies: He lays no blame at anyone's door, and does not question America's actions before, during and after 9/11. Americans will likely look at this film as further proof they were innocent bystanders struck by those jealous of their liberties & freedoms, and the resolve of the USA is never in doubt. It is naive to think this way, but this is a minor consequence a straightforward story like this may have for the viewer.

I feel that as I get older and appeciate more & more the life I have, it is easier for me to rally behind films where the human spirit triumphs over great adversity. It is the simplest of stories, and countless have been told for ages on this never-ending battle. It doesn't mean each telling will be good, but I can say to you World Trade Center is definitely worth viewing and a story you won't forget.

# posted by SBP : 3:45 PM