Using hand-held cameras, Greengrass takes us onto the plane, where we are offered a window seat to the tragedy.  Watching the film, it’s hard to shake the feeling that you are not on that flight – and it is a chilling feeling indeed.  But Greengrass also takes us into several control towers, into the FAA headquarters and even an Air Force base, where we are allowed to witness the helpless panic that prevailed.

There are a lot of messages in “United 93,” and people will take away many things.  What stood out to me, however subtle, was Greengrass’s attempt to normalize the terrorists and to make them seem like they are just “one of us.”  They are clean shaven and well dressed.  They pray – even using words from the Episcopal liturgy ("Thanks be to God").  One even calls home, before boarding the plane, to say, “I love you.”  Interestingly, in the subtitles, Greengrass also has the terrorists refer to “God” – not Allah.

I can’t help but assume that, however indirectly, Greengrass is trying to say that all religion is the same.  And, although I am all too aware of the brokenness and dysfunction that inherits my own faith, I cannot help but disagree.  There is evil.  But that evil is not religion.

It’s a political movie, to be sure, and it’s interesting that it was made by a Brit.  But it’s here and it’s good and it’s a highly fitting memorial to those who perished – especially for those who might forget.

AUDIENCE:  Adults
      
DVD EXTRAS:

• “United 93:” The Families and the Film – sobering interviews with the families of the passengers and crew
• Feature Commentary – with director Paul Greengrass
• Memorial Pages – 40 written biographies remember the passengers and crew

CAUTIONS:

• Drugs/Alcohol:  None.
• Language/Profanity:  A handful of obscenities and profanities.
• Sexual Content/Nudity:  None.
• Violence:  Several people are stabbed and die.  Mostly threat of violence and terrorism through dialogue, with no on-screen crashes or explosions.