World Trade Center (2006)reviewed by Benn "Where's the Humanity?" Farrell
On September 11, 2001, a Port Authority police officer named John McLoughlin, played by Nicholas Cage (The Weather Man), and a rookie named Will Jimeno, played by Michael Pena (Crash), are trapped under the rubble of the World Trade Center's tower two after the infamous terrorist attack on the United States. Now they must rely on each other to not give up hope, as we follow their respective families and their confusion over the next 36 hours. Stone took this picture in a direction which debates using sentimentalism over genuine courage. The difference is, sentimentalism to creating a warm-fuzzy sentiment without proper set up and an order of inevitability. If you want to read more on this film flaw, read my review for "The Notebook." Much of the movie's dialogue could have been cut. A man trapped under concrete gasping for air with a dry heave is in need of water, obviously. He doesn't need to tell us he's f**king thirsty, SO thirsty; boy, they laid it on thick. Cutting lines like that would make the film less hoaky. I enjoyed Stone's concept regarding the film's perspective. The audience was given as much as the cops would have known. Their confusion was our confusion. However, for the most part, between this picture, "Any Given Sunday" and "Alexander," I have to say Stone has definitely lost something in his decision making. Overall, I feel "World Trade Center" is a feeble attempt to tribute those who lost their lives saving others that day. The tribute should have been with a GOOD movie, and not THIS movie. P.S.: I'm beginning to dislike Maggie Gyllenhaal as an actress. I don't know why. Benn - Where's the Humanity?
This was an extremely contrived movie which leads me to believe director Oliver Stone--at one time one of my favorites--has lost touch with material.