The Movie
Of the four commercial airplanes hijacked and crashed into landmark American buildings by terrorists on September 11, 2001, only one of them failed to reach its intended target, believed to be The Capitol in Washington, D.C. United 93 tells the story of that flight, shot and edited to approximate real time, reminding viewers of the shock of just how much the world could change over the course of two hours.
Writer/Director Paul Greengrass employed a troupe of mostly unknown actors and a sparse, almost documentary-like style, the better to draw us in without distraction as he spun his riveting re-creation. Yes, some of it is conjecture, as there were no survivors, but this well-researched script provides the most detailed account most of us will ever see of what likely occurred aboard that plane.
A team of four terrorists armed with knives and a fake bomb seized control of the plane and kept the passengers under control. But when news of the first three hijacked flights--and their deliberate crashes into both towers of The World Trade Center plus The Pentagon--begins to reach those aboard Flight 93, difficult decisions are made by some brave men and women. They know they have nothing to lose, and with the help of an amateur pilot in their midst, they decide to fight back and retake control of the plane.
Of course, the movie is not strictly about that one flight, pulling together the different points of view on the ground, military and civilian pros scrambling to respond to the incoming news. We are rapt as we try to keep up with who knows what and when during a morning of chaos, and heartbroken and enraged as we witness their sad fate.
Also read Joe Lozito's review of United 93.
The Picture
United 93 was shot on a combination of 16mm and 35mm film, at an aspect ratio of 2.4:1, and while the image displays a generally satisfactory level of HD detail, it is definitely tainted by excessive film grain, with maybe a frame or two of damage here and there. The most striking flaw in this presentation however is the blacks, which are quite flat and lifeless. Colors are realistic and in no way glamorized.
The Sound
The DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack sports aggressive 5.1-channel activity, typically establishing a you-are-there environment in the home theater. At Newark Airport, there are planes all over the tarmac, their engines backed by ample bass, and plenty of travelers milling about inside. Air traffic control centers are alive with ringing phones and chattering voices, often graced with the discrete, clean mix of the low-key musical score. Even the omnipresent hum/whine inside the airplane is well-represented,
The Extras
Most of the extras here are ported from the two-disc Limited Edition DVD, in standard definition. The audio commentary by director Paul Greengrass is not to be missed as he discusses both his approach to the project and the historic events. "United 93: The Families and the Film" (60 minutes) catches up with the loved ones, how the movie affected them and how it all came together.
"Chasing Planes: Witnesses to 9/11" (48 minutes) provides further insight into the ground efforts during the attacks. The Memorial Pages feature is an interactive collection of biographies of some of the 9/11 deceased.
The eight-and-a-half-minute promotional clip for the Flight 93 National Memorial is new, in 1080i/60Hz HD. The disc also supports BD-Live connectivity and the pocket BLU app.
Final Thoughts
Respectful, insightful and executed with a bold technique, United 93 is a worthy dramatization of a defining moment in American history. While it will never be easy to watch, the tenth anniversary of 9/11 and this new Blu-ray are valid reasons to revisit this true, tragic tale of defiance.
Product Details
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