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Massawyrm Visits WORLD TRADE CENTER!!
Hola all. Massawyrm here.
You know, this is the type of film I dread reviewing. It’s one of those films that simply removes a whole slew of options from the writer’s arsenal. The material is just too hyper charged to go into the realm of comedy or satire and being based on real events you can’t simply review the content. We’re talking about a day of which only superlatives, hyperbole and cliché ever seem to come close to touching the truth of it.
And you’d think it would get easier. I mean, I’ve already written about this topic once this year with the release of the criminally under seen United 93. But it isn’t any easier. And you’d think it would be easier for Oliver Stone as well. United 93 already broke the established Taboo, it already generated all of the controversy. So everyone can look past all that and just see this as the film that it is, right? No. You can’t. In fact, Stone would have had better luck being the first of the two films out on the subject. Because now audiences have something to compare it to and, as it turns out, United 93 is the far superior of the two.
I remember sitting around knocking back a few beers with some buddies, sharing our fears about what United 93 might turn out to be. Overly manipulative. Jingoistic. Almost movie of the week in the sense of the story it chose to tell. But that’s not the film Paul Greengrass made. Instead, that’s the film Oliver Stone made.
I find it almost impossible to talk about one of these films without referencing the other. They’re such polar opposites in the way the stories are told. United 93 has an almost documentary feel to it. It’s gritty, raw, but most importantly, acknowledges that it doesn’t need to attempt to make you feel. Greengrass uses every last bit of emotion you hold about 9/11 – the wounds that won’t close, the shock you had upon first seeing those images, the fear that stuck in the pit of your gut all the following day – and he uses it to his advantage throughout the entire 90 minutes of the film. You walk out of that film in a daze, like you’ve been sucker punched. It’s like experiencing that morning all over again.
World Trade Center, on the other hand, is just the opposite. Night and Day. It’s the slick Hollywood version complete with big names, recognizable supporting cast, tremendous special effects and plenty of moments carefully tailored to try and squeeze the tears right out of you. While Stone manages to capture brief moments that take you back to that morning, he never sustains them for very long. Instead, he’d rather set up exactly the kind of moments you’d expect from a Hollywood film on the subject.
Now that’s not necessarily a bad thing. As an artist, Stone has every right to try and take the audience on a very specific emotional journey. But I’m not convinced that’s the type of journey an event like this warrants. Not now. No, this isn’t a too soon rant. Rather, to be frank, it’s a wholly unnecessary choice this close to 9/11. Everyone reading this, every last one of you, remembers every last detail of the moment you first heard. You remember who told you, what time it was, what you were eating at the time. Everything. And you remember the fear, the panic, every last phone call you made to loved ones to make sure they were somewhere safe. Each one of us has a whole trove of emotions permanently chained to that day. We don’t need to be needled to feel for anyone directly involved with the attacks. But that’s exactly what World Trade Center tries to do. It needles you.
The film is replete with flashbacks meant to add emotional resonance to later scenes. Then, when those scenes come, sure you begin to feel your ducts choking with tears – but it passes. Because it doesn’t feel real. You realize how you’re being manipulated. Of course you’re supposed to cry – a couple has just realized that they want to name their unborn baby the name their spouse picked…because they think they’ll never see one another again, and it’s their final expression of love for the other. Only someone made of wood could shrug off a line like “How do I tell my 4 year old daughter that her daddy is never coming home?” But as the emotion swells, you think Oh, now that was cheap.
The movie’s filled with moments like that.
And like I said, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. But it will be for some. Like me. It was entirely unnecessary. The emotions I already carry with me were more than enough to give the gravity of this film the weight it needed. Simply showing us the events would have sufficed. There would have been tears.
But if the emotional overload weren’t enough, Stone seems to suffer from Pearl Harbor Syndrome – an affliction causing a director to try and tell too many stories at once. While the film focuses upon two Port Authority Police Officers – we’re introduced to a bevy of interesting side characters Stone simply doesn’t have the time to spend on. So they get boiled down to quick moments that involve their entire character stories wrapped into single lines of dialog. ”I’ve been in and out of rehab for years and I’ve found the one thing I’m good at is saving people.” That’s no exaggeration, that’s an actual line of dialog. And the meatiest thing that character gets to say. There’s about a good half dozen characters like this scattered throughout the film. And they just leave you wondering Why the hell even bother mentioning them?
But these aren’t simply the worst flaws in the film. They’re the only flaws. Emotional content aside, it’s a pretty well put together film. Everything else is pretty top notch. The acting is solid on all counts. But most impressive is Stone’s ability to capture the brutality of that morning without going overboard. The images he chooses are daring, but never over the top.
I’ve got a good friend who was an NYPD first responder that morning, and the stories he tells, the scene that he’s laid out…well, that’s exactly what Stone put to the screen. And yet Stone was smart enough to leave out the excessive gore. He’s clearly very reverent with this material. He gives you a small taste of the blood, but never so much that it’s tasteless. He puts you at Ground Zero, but never has to actually show you the planes hitting the building. This is a story about the people, not the planes. The terror, not the carnage. And that aspect works very well.
The first 20 to 30 minutes of this film are nearly perfect. While he sets everything up and takes us through that morning it’s absolutely riveting. Of course, those are the parts in which he doesn’t feel he needs to add on the emotion. It’s only after the towers fall that he begins to lay it on thick.
But not everyone’s going to feel this way about World Trade Center. For many audience members, the sappiness and manipulative nature of it will actually make this an easier film to swallow than United 93. The slick look, the Hollywood stars and the overriding theme of the triumph of the human will may prove to be a softer blow than the brutal assault that is Paul Greengrass’s film. When the credits began to roll on United 93, there was silence. Not a peep. Everyone made their way out of the theatre in quiet shock. But at the end of World Trade Center, the audience applauded. People had conversations. They were affected, but not so much as to change their entire day.
On the whole this is a good film, but not a great one. Come Oscar time next year, I honestly believe people will be talking Greengrass rather than Stone. It’s a perfect illustration of why sometimes the Hollywood approach just isn’t the right one. At least not for everyone. But if you’re curious, it’s worth a look. While manipulative and occasionally jingoistic, it’s never bad. Just not as great as it could, or should, be.
Until next time friends,
Massawyrm
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Which is enough for me to steer clear of this garbage. Sounds like Stone just made a manipulative hollywood tear-jerker that is geared towards riling up people's emotions. Naturally, conservative idiots love tripe like this since they can always use it to justify current and future imperialist adventures. Did you know that the Swift-Boat people who shafted Kerry in 2004 are marketing this movie?
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Critics still don't understand why this movie failed...I'll tell you why I didn't see it...we don't really know what happened on that plane, Hollywood gave us their best educated guess...and when dealing with this subject matter that simply isn't good enough...it smacks of sensational fantasy entertainment.
At least with Stone's movie it is based on the personal story of those it actually happened to and lived to talk about it. Sure there may be some Hollywood stuff thrown into it, but you can't say the story was made up. I don't see how the subject matter can even be compared. -
I hope this one touches people the right way, and doesn't become a fresh jumping-off point for neocon warhawking or liberal hand-wringing. It should be a memorial, not a platform.
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http://www.myspace.com/wtcfilm
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'nuff said !
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This movie is going to be a Hollywood version, over the top, piece of crap. No Way I'm spending ten bucks on this loser.
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I'd like to take your reviews seriously dude. Up until very recently I thought of your reviews as very leveled and accurate. Then I read your ridiculously mornonic Ant Bully review. You know? The one where you said that the film was the "Communist Manifesto for kids" that ignited a talkback war of ideologies. I saw that movie dude and it's about as communist as a Ronald Reagan cabinet meeting. I really don't know what you were smoking on that one dude. Are you just that atuned to right wing paranoia? I mean I consider myself leftist, even socialist at times, and other than a line or two about "teamwork" and sticking up for others weaker than yourself in the Ant Bully, there wasn't anything even remotely socialist about the film. I mean the colony was ruled over by a cartoonishly benevalent QUEEN who made the decisions for them for cripes sake!
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but I do wonder why these films are getting made. United 93 proved that there really is not that much demand for cinema versions of these events- and yet we have 2.... I don't know, something about this feels unsavoury. I avoided seeing United 93 and will do the same with this. On the other hand I know there is now going to be a flame war with Zfisk, Brokeback and Ginger Twit on one side and everyone else on the other which is always interesting. Insane, but interesting
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..and I agree; the first 30/40 mins are told purely from the perspective of the two PA officers and their crew..you never see anything extraneous...no establishing overhead shots...just the guys, on the ground wonder what the fuck is going on....you see one person actually falling from one of the towers, the rest of the time you HEAR the explosive impact of bodies hitting the ground...it's terrifying. The tower collapse is shot form the inside...again, from their persepective...so much so that we learn eventually, that the 2 officers thought only the concourse they were in had collapsed and had NO clue that either building (or the entire WTC Complex for that matter) had come down. Indeed for the most part while the guys are trapped, it's pretty riveting. But the movie turns to the waitng and the families in such a way, that it does seem as if scripted emotional cues are in play...which holy shit, is unnecessary when dealing with this subject matter. Watching the first half of this flick, I wanted to walk out many times, not because it was bad filmmaking, but because of the many memories it brought back (including that of a good friend who was lost that day...emloyee of Cantor Fitzgerald.) I'd like to read their book, to see if the screen story, as told by Stone, is accurate. Becuase certain elemts with the families actually SEEM genuine, but some don't, and the feeling is that parts of the second half walk somewhat of an exploitative line...I imagine unitentionally, but it's there nonetheless.
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Because it lets the rest of us know just how normal we are and how fantastically stupid you are, long may it continue. Stupid Stupid how can this film possibly relate to the reality that 911 is or was look and listen with "your" eyes and ears not through a lense with a 5.1 mix.
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is that a permanent change, or just special for this review?
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Isn't the whole point of this film? Isnt it a film for the most part to focus on human triump and goodness and hope. About how everyone banded together during this time when teamwork was needed most? So... like... why not applaud the heros that the movie is showing? I thought that was the point. Like United 93 was a story of heroes who banded together too... but in the end we all know what happened. This movie has the focus on survival, someone coming through if you will. I didnt really care much about United 93 one way or the other. This is the movie I want to see as a New Yorker. This is the movie whose trailer just leaves me humbled and the rest of the theater as well. Honestly I never heard "too soon" being screamed at the screen for either trailer... I never heard nothing at all when the United 93 trailer was on... but the WTC trailer I heard sighs and talked and just the awe not because of the effects but because of the event the effects represeent. I will be their on opening day. I will wait for cable to see United 93... but I personally doubt it can even hold a candle to what WTC will be. Guess I have to just wait and see.
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Call me childish, now that is comedy.TEE HEE.
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On that day of the attacks every single news anchor conjectured that the planes going into the buildings and the tragedy in general were "like something out of a Hollywood movie." Well...here we are.
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United 93 basically made a well known speculations into the truth. WTC is a bunch of emotionally manipulating garbage that taps into the countrys patriotism for box office. To think that they've been made by two extremely talented filmmakers is just sad.
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I saw this 2 weeks ago and sent in a *VERY* similar review to AICN... but they didn't publish it. I agree with Massawyrm on most everything. United 93 grabbed me by the throat and socked me in the gut. WTC just occasionally poked me in the eye.
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These words belong on the back of dvd covers for indecisive people at the video store, and nowhere else.
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9/11 was the most evil, embarrassing, pathetic, reaffirmation of the corruption that holds us in it's grasp. There's nothing 'triumphant' about it. Those people died to make the West hate the 'Arab' enough to accept any action against them and to plunge the U.S. into a state of shock, fear, everything that allowed the people to be controlled more easily. They don't have the balls to admit that thousands of people had to die to further America. What exactly would happen even if they DID admit it? What could anyone do? Nothing. You do know that the plans are in place for a police state, that's in case the truth came out and the people went crazy. The world could very well implode. I'm talking BS. Go and see this movie.
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something you can't expect from Harry "Shit soaking Tampon of Hollywood" Knowles
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is the documentary 9/11 by the 2 canadian guys that was real, more intense than anything Hollywood can cook up because it's real no soundtrack, no celebrity just the people that were there, the day it happened happening to them. I don't see why this had to be made other than the profit aspect.
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Know why? Cause I have no desire to go see Jesus any time soon. Fuck the Imperialists! Hi Fidel!
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Totally agree with you about that 9/11 documentary by Jules and Gedeon Naudet. No movie can make me feel what I feel when I watch it. I still walk by the firehouse from time to time. Life is stranger than fiction.
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and it was unintentional. I do plan on seeing this in the theatres. I really just want to make the decision for myself. As movies go...I thought United 93 was the best movie I have seen all year. You see how no one cared when you didn't go see that movie when it came out? Think your stiffing it Hollywood? Eh, it didn't make any money, and I don't think WTC will either. Only execs. should care about that. Why should you? You people should pray for at least a good movie. Just as long as these movies are allowed to made, that's all I care about.
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So true. Amazing documentary... its the one I keep thinking about when I see all the news about these 9/11 movies.
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Why doesn't Oliver stone just make a movie about my parents dying in a car crash with someone else's parents who then have to be rescued by bystanders who get burnt by car explosion?
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first of all, you know you're gonna get ripped if you misspell "moronic"...typos don't matter UNLESS you're calling someone out with an insult like that. second (re: your mention of the ant queen), communism does not mean that there is no leader. it means (in theory) that there is no capitalism or private ownership. having a queen in the colony represent a benevolent leader, as you said, is perfectly in keeping with communist ideals. the idea is, after all, that everything belongs to the people, not that every person is, individually, in charge. that would be anarchy. not trying to be too jerky here, I just don't like people ripping on the AICN reviewers without a full understanding of all that's involved.
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Ok, I'll give you the ant queen comment wasn't that thought out, and that spelling moronic wrong hurt (at least I wasn't pathetic enough to correct myself in another post like some many assholes do on this site) but I do understand what's involved here. The queen aside, there is no possible way a rational person could perceive the ideas in The Ant Bully as remotely communist or socialist. Mass was being WAY over sensitive.
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I think you need to go back and reread the piece. It was very tongue in cheek satire. I mean come on, by the time you got to "Chemical weapon spewing Imperialist Devil" you didn't think "Come on, this has got to be a put on." I was having fun exploiting the themes of a mediocre film to make what I'd hoped was a fun read. You can't take that review, or my deliberate goading of the talkbackers comparing me to McCarthy, too seriously.
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Aug 03, 2006 6:30:37 PM CDT
There was applause at my "United 93" screening actually
by ronald raygun
I suppose it was more of the "What a great movie" instead of the "Hoo-ray! All those people died!!" variety.
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A Hollywood gloss on this could be cathartic - I was a NY'er, I'm a native, actually, who was present in NYC on 9/11, saw the towers fall & wondered, through tears what was next...After the shock of that day, & the days that followed - I have refused to be re-traumatized by the events of that day, & have refused to see United 93 for that reason. It's just too close. Documentary & neorealism are wonderful mediums/modes; but I don't want realism when it comes to 9/11; I want it distilled, filtered, processed just like the memories of that day are - which is a natural by-product of time & how the mind heals itself from trauma. I will probably go to see World Trade Center. & I'm going to bring a big pile of hankies.
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and we should be grateful that. God, what the hell was up with that movie?!?
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...didn't even watch it. I was as sceptical as most when it came to that film but it was honestly the most powerful film I've seen in a very long time, and the best film this year (and, come to think of it, better than anything produced last year). And for those denouncing it as fiction - first off, the scenes on the plane have been researched as well as these things can be and it doesn't try and add anything that wouldn't be there, all events shown are logical and belieavable based on what we know and the evidence the filmmakers had to hand. And secondly the film isn't merely about the plane - its about the reaction and confusion in the air traffic control towers and the military during the events, which is based on fact so much it has people involved in the day playing themselves (at least one in a main role, which worked far better than you'd think). And those scenes are the most dramatic, tense and real of the film. The plane scenes are emotional and horrific (not in an exploitive way) but the chaos and confusion behind the scenes is bewildering. Trust me, if you don't go into it determined to disregard it simply out of pride then it's a brilliant piece of filmmaking and an incredible account of the events of that day.
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damn, damn, damn fine movie. it's fucking criminal that it got ignored as much as it did. almost saw it twice, but the assholes that run the local multiplex shunted it after two weeks so they could put the fucking Da Vinci code on five goddamned screens(yup, still pissed off about that). and Massa just confirmed all of my suspicions regarding WTC. but i have to disagree with him on one point. if i have learned anything from the oscars, it's that greatness is overlooked and crap shines(see Julia Roberts stealing Ellen Burstyn's oscar for a clear example). WTC will probably sweep the fucking proceedings with United 93 garnering narry a mention.
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