Listening to people's conversations and priorities prior to the hijacking, knowing what's coming next, is utterly devastating. Seeing them live their lives, smiling, laughing, etc, all unbeknownst to the fact that that flight will be their last.
Knowing the story factually is one thing but seeing it presented in this medium is another. Seeing the individuals rather than the collective. Seeing them slowly learn in real time, the full extent of what will become the worst terrorist attack in US history, and seeing their changing and evolving emotional response to that, is just soul destroying.
For an American film released just 5 years after the real events, it's incredibly restrained. No major political speeches/agenda. No sensationalism or villainisation of the perpetrators. Just people. People in different positions doing different things for different reasons. It's chaotic, complex and layered. Generally stories hit harder that way and I'd say this one is no exception. Showing the big picture, simultaneously the best and worst that humanity is capable of. Like I've said before, I have no other words than devastating.
While, as a film, I don't think it's a masterpiece. It's certainly important and something which deserves to be seen at least once. It's surprisingly quiet and let's the reality speak for itself. It leaves you slightly empty inside afterwards, in a way which only few films can. I'm glad to have seen it.
Listening to people's conversations and priorities prior to the hijacking, knowing what's coming next, is utterly devastating. Seeing them live their lives, smiling, laughing, etc, all unbeknownst to the fact that that flight will be their last.
Knowing the story factually is one thing but seeing it presented in this medium is another. Seeing the individuals rather than the collective. Seeing them slowly learn in real time, the full extent of what will become the worst terrorist attack in US history, and seeing their changing and evolving emotional response to that, is just soul destroying.
For an American film released just 5 years after the real events, it's incredibly restrained. No major political speeches/agenda. No sensationalism or villainisation of the perpetrators. Just people. People in different positions doing different things for different reasons. It's chaotic, complex and layered. Generally stories hit harder that way and I'd say this one is no exception. Showing the big picture, simultaneously the best and worst that humanity is capable of. Like I've said before, I have no other words than devastating.
While, as a film, I don't think it's a masterpiece. It's certainly important and something which deserves to be seen at least once. It's surprisingly quiet and let's the reality speak for itself. It leaves you slightly empty inside afterwards, in a way which only few films can. I'm glad to have seen it.
