When this movie came out a few years ago I was reluctant to see it, despite overwhelmingly positive reviews. I thought it would (a) make me afraid to fly ever again (b) make me cry (c) be tasteless (d) be sappy (e) be too violent.
Surprisingly, not one of these fears came true for me. The tension in the first half of the film was almost too much to bear at times as oblivious plane passengers quietly talked to each other in the air and baffled air-traffic controllers tried to make sense of absolute chaos on the ground. The (very positive) New Yorker review pointed out that while most "Everyman heroism" films provoke a lump in your throat, in this one it's more like a knot in the pit of your stomach. At the end, I felt somewhat of a catharsis for the people on the plane. "I love you. I love you. I love you." repeated over and over as they phoned their dear ones at home, their last words to their husbands, wives, daughters, sons, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, before a group of them stormed the cockpit.
As Matt said, I don't know that I'll ever want to watch it again. It was really overwhelming at times. I shivered throughout the first half of it. A caveat: it's rated R for brief strong language and brief intense violence, probably mostly for "thematic material." Overall the movie is understated, very realistic, not sappy, and thought-provoking. Once Flight 93 is in the air, the movie plays out in real time. Real flight attendants and pilots acted in it, as well as little-known actors. Ben Sliney of the FAA and Major James Fox played themselves, as did a handful of other FAA and military personnel.
On this Memorial Day I am trying to remember to notice what's going on around me--both in the world and in my immediate environment; to be prepared for anything; and most of all to remember and learn from my own and others' past mistakes in order to live the best life possible.
Thanks today to everyone who has pursued and maintained freedom and peace in our country and around the world--whether by choice or by circumstance, a decorated general or a dedicated citizen, lauded or unnoticed, it all matters, and I am grateful for it.
3 comments:
I vaguely remember this movie - thanks for the commentary.
The reason for Memorial Day has certainly been obscured by shopping!! Every year I have to take a class period and tell kids about it - with a reading comprehension packet or something. I am always amazed at how little some kids know about our country and culture.
I was hestitant to watch this also, but did see it a couple of years ago. At points it was very hard to watch but I thought that it switching back and forth between the airplane and the traffic control room helped with that. I am glad that I watched it.
I felt the same way about this movie. I avoided it for so long but I'm glad I watched it. I wouldn't want to watch it again, like you said.
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