World Trade Center
2006. Directed by Oliver Stone. Written by Andrea Berloff. Starring Nicolas Cage, Michael Pena, Maria Bello, and Maggie Gyllenhaal.
Even if he never makes another superb film, Oliver Stone has had quite a career. But what exactly has happened to him? I used to anxiously await his newest theatrical release, and now I almost force myself to watch the dvd out of obligation. In a ten year span from 1986 to 1995, he was astonishing in his approach and message. Platoon is one of the best films ever made. Natural Born Killers, arguably, may also be. That wasn't all though: JFK, Nixon, Born on the Fourth of July, and Heaven & Earth all received A's from me. In addition, that time span brought Wall Street, Talk Radio, and The Doors, and while I wouldn't consider the three spectacular they are at the least quite good. That's a hell of a ten year run. Even 1997's U-Turn was terrifically twisted and fun (though I may be in the minority on that one). 1999 brought Any Given Sunday, a solid but not spectacular film. Then, with the exception of a 2003 documentary interviewing Fidel Castro, we come to a lapse that takes us to the unenjoyable Alexander in 2004 and now the noble but uninspiring World Trade Center. His output has diminished drastically in both quantity and quality. I await his revival. Many artists have done it, bouncing back from creative droughts to reclaim their place as relevant, powerful voices. The end of that wait is not yet in sight.
World Trade Center is not a bad film, but it is not all that good either. It is slow moving and unsurprising. It follows two police officers, played by Nicolas Cage and Michael Pena (the father who so memorably offered his bullet proof cape to his daughter in Crash) who go inside the towers to help. They don't get far before the towers collapse, trapping them twenty feet below the surface, unable to move. Much of the movie focuses on these two officers talking to each other, trying to stay awake and overlook the pain as they hope for an unlikely rescue. There are also scenes of the families and their reserved hope amid their fears of the worst. The film is a honorable attempt to pay tribute to the brave way our first responders tried to do what was right in the face of horrifying odds. It is a decent film with great intentions but I'd be happier with a great film from Stone with decent intentions.
My grade: B-
Even if he never makes another superb film, Oliver Stone has had quite a career. But what exactly has happened to him? I used to anxiously await his newest theatrical release, and now I almost force myself to watch the dvd out of obligation. In a ten year span from 1986 to 1995, he was astonishing in his approach and message. Platoon is one of the best films ever made. Natural Born Killers, arguably, may also be. That wasn't all though: JFK, Nixon, Born on the Fourth of July, and Heaven & Earth all received A's from me. In addition, that time span brought Wall Street, Talk Radio, and The Doors, and while I wouldn't consider the three spectacular they are at the least quite good. That's a hell of a ten year run. Even 1997's U-Turn was terrifically twisted and fun (though I may be in the minority on that one). 1999 brought Any Given Sunday, a solid but not spectacular film. Then, with the exception of a 2003 documentary interviewing Fidel Castro, we come to a lapse that takes us to the unenjoyable Alexander in 2004 and now the noble but uninspiring World Trade Center. His output has diminished drastically in both quantity and quality. I await his revival. Many artists have done it, bouncing back from creative droughts to reclaim their place as relevant, powerful voices. The end of that wait is not yet in sight.
World Trade Center is not a bad film, but it is not all that good either. It is slow moving and unsurprising. It follows two police officers, played by Nicolas Cage and Michael Pena (the father who so memorably offered his bullet proof cape to his daughter in Crash) who go inside the towers to help. They don't get far before the towers collapse, trapping them twenty feet below the surface, unable to move. Much of the movie focuses on these two officers talking to each other, trying to stay awake and overlook the pain as they hope for an unlikely rescue. There are also scenes of the families and their reserved hope amid their fears of the worst. The film is a honorable attempt to pay tribute to the brave way our first responders tried to do what was right in the face of horrifying odds. It is a decent film with great intentions but I'd be happier with a great film from Stone with decent intentions.
My grade: B-
posted by Keith Allison at 11:36 PM
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