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While the September 11 movie Flight 93 may be opening the Tribeca Film Festival in just a matter of weeks, the film's trailer has been playing. And some viewers are not exactly ready - the Lincoln Square Loews actually pulled the trailer and some NYC moviegoers covered their eyes when it came on. The trailer is effectively chilling, reminding us of how it was just a beautiful September day that turned into scary chaos. Director Paul Greengrass secured the approval from all of Flight 93 victims' families to make the film, and Universal, the studio that produced the film, says it's "not shocked to hear that some people find it uncomfortable."
The movie will open on April 28 - it'll be interesting to see how the film does in the NYC metro area. And Gothamist remembers the film, 11'09"01, a collection of short films (each 11 minutes, 9 seconds and 1 frame) from 11 different international directors, which was shown at the NY Film Festival in 2002; one of the most powerful - and most discomfort-inducing - shorts was the one directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, who used audio tapes from the day and brief shots of bodies falling from the towers. While it sounds (and is) rather stark, it makes sense in the global context of the project. Have you seen it? You can buy 11'09"01 on Amazon.
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If other people want to see it, I say go right ahead. As far as I'm concerned, though, no. Effing. Way.
I saw as much of September 11th as I needed on the day itself, and I'm really not too excited for the various trailers, ads, reviews and so forth.
On the other hand, I guess it's good training for the Ollie Stone 9/11 wankfest coming our way.
5 years is still too soon for me.
they started reenacting the civil war 10 years after the surrender, how fucked it that?!
I saw the trailer, and while it could freak you out, remembering how horrible that day felt if you here, it also seems to emphasize the courage of the people on the plane rather than fear. Which I have to admit is a refreshing way to remember the eleventh, seeing as how it's been exploited for its fear content for five years now. It may not be what you want to drop $10 on, but it seems honorable.
Do they even really know if the passengers were successful at storming the cockpit at all? They know that they were planning to do that, but did it actually happen? Sometimes I wonder if that is just a fiction concocted to make us feel a *bit* better about something on that day.
I saw the trailer for this before Inside Man and yeah in my mind I was thinking "too soon" and the audience got *very* quiet. But I think the WTC is going up too soon, plays are being written about this too soon, etc. People have this crazy need for closure as soon as possible, and closure doesnt exist IMHO.
Even after 5 years, I think NYers are all still abit skittish and unsettled about 9/11, and rightly so, given the state of fear we're put in by the powers that be.
I was in one of those new subway cars with the folding seat, and it slammed up, making a huge noise. I swear, the entire carload of people turned white.
I hope this movie fails, embarrassingly, in the New York market.
Seems exploitative to me.
"I hope this movie fails, embarrassingly, in the New York market."
Me too. Documentaries I can deal with because it's investigative and helps us learn more about the event. But this is just pure play acting about something very real that just happened. I thought I was a tough guy until I saw the trailer. It made me feel a little ill. There is no reason to see this, or make this film so soon. And as for all the families giving "their blessing" to the director, I'm not sure that makes much of a difference to me. I still think that the most we should be seeing at this point is documentaries that explore the facts.
Tim N. said...
"It may not be what you want to drop $10 on, but it seems honorable."
That's $10.75 (remember, it's the extra 75 cents that makes it worth it) that will line the pockets of Universal Pictures executives and Paul Greengrass pockets. It's essentially a fancy snuff film. And that's quite reprehensible. No matter what the price.
anonyme said...
"People have this crazy need for closure as soon as possible, and closure doesnt exist IMHO."
True. But ultimately the real horror is how this city is so screwed up that the only tangible/long-term actions taken by city/state officials in the post 9-11 world that have an impact on the average New Yorker are (1) those tax-free weeks to 'boost' downtown sales and (2) the removal of the State tax on clothing and related items under $110 and (3) pushing vendors away from the WTC site.
I'm a consumer like any other red blooded American, but it's quite nauseating to realize that the most "forward momentum" in this city to help "heal" after 9-11 is basically tossing discounts and making the retail environment more "welcoming".
Rebuild or not, the way this city/state has handled the "what to do..." is sickening and pathetic. And ultimately an embarassment.
Exploitative is the word.
Notice how Universal is saying they'll donate 10% (pennies!) of the opening weekend number? "Make us open at #1, and then we'll think about giving!" Slick.
I lived four blocks from the Trade Center then and for a year afterward. While I'm not going to say the movie shouldn't have been made (because if I don't want to go see it, I don't have to), I would have had a mild panic attack if I'd seen the trailer on Inside Man without having been warned. That the distributors didn't consider that in the New York market is pretty absurd.
I don't live in NYC, and never have, and I don't know anyone who was killed or injured on 9/11 in NYC, PA, or at the Pentagon. But I saw enough on tv the day it happened, and the days afterwards. I couldn't watch a movie about it. I have tried to watch a few documentaries, but can't make it to the end.
But, should movies about it be made? Why not. Not everyone has had the same reaction as me. Some people might feel as if it helps, to see a movie about 9/11. I suppose its a case of whatever floats your boat.
But, if I'm in a movie theater, and that trailer comes on without warning, I'm likely to ask for my money back, and if I don't get it, I may stand outside the place, and warn people coming in for the next show.
Creativity in any form can be a good thing, so go ahead and make the movie.
I'm certainly not going to go see it, but I'm not presumptuous enough to try to speak for anyone else on this.