United 93 Reviews

In 2006, when Universal Pictures announced it was releasing writer-director Paul Greengrass' United 93, there was a mixed reception. While some were anticipating the film, most thought that "five years on" was much too soon for Hollywood to bring the horrific events of September 11, 2001 from the pages of recent history to the silver screen.

Some people thought that the families and friends of the 40 passengers and crew who died aboard the only hijacked plane of four that didn't hit its intended target would be upset.  Others said they feared the film would distort the truth.  Still others...

When I first heard about the film United 93, I didn't think it could possibly be any good. After all, how could Hollywood bring any useful value to the story of a plane hijacked on that awful September day? Yet I was surprised by United 93 -- it simply and clearly tells the story. In the process, it is riveting, frustrating, maddening and heart-stoppingly intense.

Yes, we all know how it ends. This is the story of one of the planes hijacked on Sept. 11, the plane that crashed in the Pennsylvania countryside. The passengers are ordinary and could be you and me. The crew is professional, like...

Is there anyone who doesn't know the story? As other flights meet their tragic ends and flummox Air Traffic Control, the FAA and military, the passengers of U-93 continue their flight, blissfully unaware. It's not until the plane is hijacked and the people aboard begin making frantic calls for help to the ground that they learn the fates of the other flights. Realizing their chances of survival are nil if they remain passive, they fight back.

We know the movie's...