POISON SCOOTER

World Trade Center

Before you see this film, you need to really ask yourself if you are ready. Are you ready to revisit this catastrophe? Are you really ready? Oliver Stone delivered a movie that is very understated and heroic, one that will not leave you quickly. And you need to brace yourself for it.

It's a tale of 2 men trapped in the rubble fighting to stay alive.

It's a tale of 2 wives confronting their worst fears.

It's a tale of 2 towers collapsing to the ground in confusion.

It's a tale of 2 men figuring out what they are good at in the face of tragedy.

But above all, it's a tale of human spirit and triumph.

Oliver Stone could have easily got caught up in the blame game, focusing on the politics surrounding 9/11; and instead (much to my surprise) gives us a unique perspective on 9/11 devoid of anything more than watching heroes do the work that heroes do. Is this the same Stone who gave us conspiracy theories on Kennedy's death and anti-Vietnam films? It is. But it is a kinder, gentler Stone. A man who clearly did his best to not tarnish such a unifying event in the lives of all Americans.

The cast, a mixture of the recognizable and not so recognizable, become merely faces in this story. A testament to the writing and above all the performances. Is there a bigger, over the top hack than Nic Cage? Well, you would barely recognize the man in his role as a Port Authority sergeant. (The same could be said for Stephen Dorff or Frank Whaley, both playing very small albeit crucial roles and doing so with chameleon-like aplomb.)

It's hard to critique a film like this. More or less, you are immediately caught up in the unfolding story, right back there the day it happened and for two hours you just watch. You are not judging the music, or the framing of the shots. You are not questioning the plot, or looking for flaws in the script. You are simply riveted and wishing that what you are watching never happened.

So again, I stress that you must ask yourself if you are ready. Ready to relive 9/11.

posted by Scooter @ 8:58 AM