Review of World Trade Center (2006) by Andy M — 10 Mar 2009

After the awful propaganda piece that was United 93, I was not really looking forward to another flag-waving US piece on the events of 9/11. So it was with a lot of trepidation that I approached this film. However, I found myself swiftly absorbed into the drama on screen.

This film focuses on the ground (and sub ground) level events of the day, with Nic Cage leading a team of Port Authority Police to the towers as part of the rescue effort. However they swiftly become trapped in the wreckage as the collapse occurs. Whilst trapped under concrete, stell, and burning ruins, we flashback to moments from their lives, to see the relationships they built. We also see the reactions of loved ones and family as they await any news. All along the film never tries to showcase or exaggerate anything, nor does it pander to flag-waving sentimentality. It simply plays out a staggerigly claustrophobic and tense, emotional journey.

All the filmwork is done on ground level, so no big effects shots of the collapse, or the plane hits. Instead we have shadows fall over the street, followed by the sound of an explosion. What we see is what people on the ground that day will have seen, and we are inside the towers with the team when the collapse happens. The panic and terror feels very real, and the horror sinks in of what actually transpired that day.

World Trade center is a well told representation of the events of 9/11 without resorting to any finger pointing, flag waving, or conspiracy creating.