Review of World Trade Center (2006) by William C — 05 Sep 2012

This and United 93 were some of the very first theatrical films to cover 9/11 and unfortunately it was the lesser film. I didn't hate it by any means, but given the subject matter it had potential to be much better.

To be fair, there are plenty of things to like. Cage and Pena in the lead roles are terrific. Playing down their larger than life personalities, they play their roles with respect and gravitas. You feel invested in their stories and their safety. The camerawork is solid throughout, with some impressive shots scattered throughout. The music is stirring and evocative, though not going for subtlety in the slightest. It is edited well, it has some strong supporting actors and it does feel genuine at times.

That said, it suffers a bit in momentum. Not that it is a fast paced movie, but our investment in the overall plot can wane at points. It feels like anytime we are taken out of the main plot with Cage and Pena, the story starts to drag. It is not so much the actors' fault, but that their stories do not feel as engaging since they have very little tension. Michael Shannon's character feels like an unnecessary addition just to stir patriotism. There will be stretches where the pacing kind of feels lethargic rather than contemplative when attempting to touch deeper themes. And the ending involving the barbeque, though based in reality, feels a tad hokey given everything else that has happened before then. Also, while I appreciate the use of actual 9/11 footage, it sticks out as being obviously stock footage sandwiched between staged scenes.

There is certainly value in this film, but it feels like it could have been a lot better. A touching tribute for sure, but not as compelling a film.