World Trade Center Movie Review

One tragic September morning, nearly five years ago, several lives were changed forever. World Trade Center, Oliver Stones new film, shows one of the most horrific events in American History.

It was the beginning of a normal workday for two New York City Police Officers, Sergeant, John McLoughlin (Nicholas Cage) and Officer, William Jimeno (Michael Pena).

Both men were on duty when they got an urgent radio call about the World Trade Center being attacked. Both police officers and their team rushed to the scene of the burning building. Minutes after entering the first tower, it collapsed on them and killed nearly the entire team. Those who weren't killed were trapped, unable to get help. After lying there for hours they began struggling to stay awake.

Meanwhile, many New Yorkers. As well as other Americans, were shocked to hear the news of the attacks. Both John's wife, Donna (Maria Bello) and William's pregnant wife, Allison (Maggie Gyllenaal) anxiously awaited news of their husbands, neither one knowing if they would ever see each other again.

So what is so great about World Trade Center? What sets it apart from United 93 or Flight 93?

World Trade Center focuses on the positives that came out of September eleventh, rather than the devastation. This film shows the officers and the families affected by the terrorist attacks, rather than focusing on the people on the flights, and that is what sets it apart from the other movies.

Academy Award winning director, Oliver Stone, depicts the drama that occurred during World Trade Center. He's very good at turning real life issues into movies, and finding the right people for the characters. Stone is also known for making very dramatic movies that show the tragedies of our time. Some of these, such as Platoon, Wall Street, and Born on the Fourth of July put ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances.

World Trade Center is the true story of John McLoughlin and William Jimeno. After the Twin Towers collapsed that day authorities from all over were alerted. People searched for hours, even the Army came to help out. In the end only a mere twenty people were pulled from the rubble. Officer McLoughlin and Officer Jimeno were numbers 18 and 19. Once they were found and pulled from the debris they each had several weeks of surgeries to undergo before they were able to go home to their families.

This film shows what many families went through on this dark and tragic day. It doesn't show the terrorists, nor does it show the planes, in fact there is no finger pointing in this movie at all. It exists only to show the world the hope and courage of these officers and their families.