WORLD TRADE CENTER (Theatrical Release USA 2006)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 3.4|5.0 Starsììì

World Trade Center makes a feeble, wannabe attempt to be a landmark story. It quickly becomes an entertainment disaster. Part of the structural framework failure is due to the unfathomably weak acting by Nicolas Cage, Michael Peña, and the rest of the cast. The film could have been a four-star on its way to five-star movie, but could not in any way pull its story off; almost as if no one really cared about the story and its impact. The strongest actor in the film is Michael Shannon. He gets the job done.

Storyline

John McLoughlin (Nicolas Cage) sends his crew of New York police on a routine patrol. But, as Will Jimeno (Michael Peña) patrols a New York side walk, he gets a radio call that a plane has hit the World Trade Center. John McLoughlin’s crew reports back to the station for a briefing and a select few are chosen to investigate the explosion. Will Jimeno and his team corner a city bus, confiscate it, and proceed to the site to assess damage. John McLoughlin meets them there, briefs them, and the story is on.

Additional Thanks

Good Work for Director Oliver Stone. Thank you to Executive Producers Norman Golightly and Donald J. Lee, Jr. for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Donna McLoughlin (Maria Bello), Steven McLoughlin (Connor Paolo), JJ McLoughlin (Anthony Piccininni), Erin McLoughlin (Alexa Gerasimovich), Caitlin McLoughlin (Morgan Flynn), and Antonio Rodrigues (Armando Riesco).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe.  September 11, 2001 needs a graphic review, but on a larger scale that truly shows the devastation and emotional havoc wreaked. This film fails to accomplish that aim.

Video Critique Available Here:

Ben Meyers