Posted on 05/07/2006 10:53:29 AM PDT by Ramius
Somebody has bought tickets to “United 93.” The movie about heroism about the doomed Sept. 11 flight grossed $11.6 million in sales and finished second place (to “RV”) when it debuted last weekend.
Directed and written by Paul Greengrass, the docudrama has gotten spectacular critical reviews. But those same reviews tell you why “United 93” poses no box office threat to “Mission: Impossible III.” Roger Ebert of The Chicago Sun-Times, for example, called it “masterful and heartbreaking” – but also “deeply disturbing.” Gary Thompson of the Philadelphia Daily News described it as “taut, clinical, almost merciless.”
Audience reaction has been somber, especially in areas directly affected by the Sept. 11 terror attacks. No one expected otherwise.
Weeping has been frequently reported during showings. One New Yorker described “United 93” to the New York Daily News as “just very disturbing.” Her husband said, “I guess it’s a form of shock.” One Long Island woman told Newsday: “During the movie, I heard a lot of sobbing, and when it ended, there was just silence. Almost everyone left with their hands crossed in front of them and their heads bowed down as if it were a wake or funeral.”
For the most part, Americans – including members of this newspaper’s editorial board – haven’t been able to bring themselves to watch a movie that vividly recreates so much of the horror and pathos of Sept. 11. It’s just hard to buy a ticket and board Flight 93 knowing beforehand how the tragedy will end and how skillfully and heartbreakingly Greengrass has no doubt rendered it.
This says something about drama’s almost mystical power over the human psyche. For some elusive reason, a well-told story can be unbearably, painfully, excruciatingly real.
It also says the wounds ripped open in this country by Sept. 11 are a long, long way from being healed. It is too easy to imagine ourselves or our loved ones caught by chance, not so long ago, on one of those doomed flights, in one of the twin towers or in the west side of the Pentagon. Part of the horrifying brilliance of “United 93,” according to reviewers, lies in the very ordinariness of its characters.
When the trauma of that day is further behind us, more Americans will probably embrace this film. But not yet. Not yet.
They couldn't bring themselves to summon the courage to even see a movie about 9/11. But they could summon the gall to write about it from the safety of their keyboards. They think the movie is about grief. But it is not about grief. It is about courage.
We are fortunate, then, that it was some other group of random people actually aboard Flight 93. I came out of the movie, not grieving-- but proud and angry.
Tacoma fishwrap ping
"Americans don't want to see the film"
Thats because they are cowards
That could also be said of "Pasion of the Christ", but that did not seem to stop ticket sales.
"When the trauma of that day is further behind us, more Americans will probably embrace this film. But not yet. Not yet."
That's right, Libs. Five years is just too soon. But, I know! Let's just wait for the next attack. Everyone knows you're all living for that moment so you can Blame Bush all over again and re-live your freakish fantasies about America's demise at the hands of your terrorist heroes. *Rolleyes*
Like the Americans on the flight, perhaps????
I saw it last night. To me, it was a tribute to the American spirit and very empowering.
"This says something about drama’s almost mystical power over the human psyche. For some elusive reason, a well-told story can be unbearably, painfully, excruciatingly real."
Unbelievable! I cannot even comment on this inane statement. Geeeeeeze!
No doubt they'd prefer a Religion of Peace "crockumentary."
that's a hell of a statement...speak for yourself...
I lost a good friend on 9-11: http://www.9-11memorialanthonyks.org/josephspor.htm
I am still pissed off to no extent about what happened...I won't see the movie out of fear I'll do something really stupid afterwards like choke the sh!t out of the first muslim I see...or at least spit in their face (the best way to stay out of trouble is to avoid it altogher)...
maybe someday downstairs on my dvd player- but not now in a movie theater...
Saw it. It is a tough film to sit through. And it goes without saying that mushy Americans would rather live in denial rather than live with the way it was.
A documentary about the actual towers that showed the number of people who jumped would be even more upsetting. It's much better for mushies to forget the whole thing and move onto important things like Impeachment.
Let me clue you in on something: if September 11 is revisited by the American people, there would be no Impeachment.
Tacoma News Tribune, 2010: "Though feelings have finally healed from the WTC attacks and we can now see United 93, we must now wait until the nuclear fallout settles from the latest attack on New York before reviewing the next documentary. Please bear with us."
Well put. They think if they just don't think about 9-11 again, maybe it won't happen again.
So you went and saw it? We intend to.
Hmmm. Perhaps they are afraid that President Bush's approval rating will increase if everyone were to see this movie.
Thats because they are cowards
How quick you are to jump on the bandwagon that Americans are cowards. Clearly, lots of Americans ~are~ seeing the film, as their own math makes clear: "Somebody bought tickets".
Liberals who don't want to have to make the tough choices Flight 93 puts before us are the ones who don't want to see the film. They aren't ALL of America.
I saw it last weekend.
It's everything that everybody except for the Trib Editorial board, says it is. They're the ones that really should go see it, because even after all this time they still don't get it and obviously never did.
They still think 9/11 is about grieving.
More than anything it is about courage... the courage to do what must be done when nothing else can be done.
Amen!!! Also brings to light even more that liberals cannot, cannot face reality.
It seems "Americans" are more interested in potty jokes about the holding tanks on RV's (as I heard one TV host refer to this movie)than they are about 9-11.
Tacoma. Seattle's smaller, dumber brother.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.