Is It Too Soon?
February 27, 2006
Oliver Stone is currently in the process of shooting a feature-length motion picture, “World Trade Center”, inspired by the events of September 11, 2001. The movie will tell the gripping story of the last two survivors pulled from the wreckage of the former World Trade Center complex in Lower Manhattan. Nicholas Cage will play Sergeant John McLoughlin and Michael Pena will be playing the role of William J. Jimeno. These real-life Port Authority officers are working very close with the production crew, directors and actors, making sure every detail is exact to that day, as they are the best witnesses to their story. Universal Pictures has already filmed “Flight 93“, a movie (directed by Paul Greengas, director of “Bloody Sunday” and “The Bourne Supremacy”) about the events on the ill-fated flight 93 that departed from Newark International Airport on September 11th and crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. “Flight 93″ will be released in April 2006. Adam Sandler is set to play a grieving man who lost his family on 9/11 in “Reign O’er Me.” Another film, “102 Minutes” will be released in 2007 as an adaptation of the book by New York Times reporter Jim Dwyer, that “recreates the moments between the first plane’s crash into the World Trade Center and the second tower’s collapse.” Since Hollywood is coming out in full force on the topic, the question on everyone’s mind is: Is it too soon for a major motion picture depicting the disaster that is still painfully fresh in our minds? We all remember the exact emotion we felt when we first realized the magnitude of the tragedy on that day. We can all remember where we were when we saw it on the news, heard it on the radio, or heard the announcement over a public address system. Can we possibly stand reliving that day, with every detail, a mere five years later?
Hollywood would’ve put these movies out on september 12th, 2001, had the chance arisen. We all know when human deceny and profit come together in Hollywood: Never. What good are these movies doing for American society today? I’ve got these movies burned into my brain already, thank you very much; the image of two burning monoliths on the opposite side of the east river doesn’t fade easily. I don’t need to be reminded, and our generation doesn’t need to be reminded. These films may be justifiable 20 or 30 years from now. But to release them today only reveals Hollywood’s desire to capitalize off the dark side of human curiosity.
I think at least one of these films, the one directed by Paul Greengas, might have something intelligent to say about September 11th, at least judging from his other films, especially Bloody Sunday. Oliver Stone, on the other hand, has subjected his audience to the likes of “Alexander,” and shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near something potentially meaningful.
I’m torn on whether I’ll see the movies or not. I’ve been reliving September 11th since it happened; I can only wait and see if I’m up to it. I believe, though, the Oliver Stone film will stick to a documentary style approach, while maintaining Hollywood dramatics. I remember I saw a documentary a couple months after 9/11, about two French film makers who followed around an FDNY plebian. It just so happens that September 11th was in the last week of their shoot. Even as a documentary, the subject is dramatic. I hope Stone doesn’t add any Hollywood glitz; for God’s sake, it doesn’t need it! Thinking about “Flight 93”, the trailer is absolutely eerie and unnerving. How can we let a movie director piece together what he thinks happened on the doomed flight? Although, he does have complete cooperation and permission from the family members of the flight’s 40 passengers. I wonder how much money he paid them? Or, it may be whole-hearted after all. The money made from these movies should go towards the memorial funds! For such an important event in history, and for all those who passed away, it sure as hell needs a good memorial.
On the other hand, because so many people in this country have no idea what raw emotions were wrenched out of New Yorkers on 9/11, the films should be made. Aside from Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston and Miami being simultaneously hit with terrorist acts on the magnitude of the destruction of the WTC, nothing can help the naïve citizens of this country realize these events’ depths quite possibly better than a detailed movie (assuming it’s well done).
I have conflicting feelings on these upcoming films. First and foremost I’ll most definitely say that the terror is too fresh in our memories for all of these movies to come out now. I don’t know about everyone else, but I feel as though I was sitting in third period lab with my gut in my throat, listening to my principal break the heartwrenching news just days ago.
However, I believe that my personal wounds have taken longer to heal because of my physical location and personal connection to the events of 9/11. I go to the University of Connecticut, and most people don’t believe it’s a big deal anymore. That we should have recovered from it by now. A guy from my Brit Lit class told me it did not really influence his life in any way shape or form. Some people in California think it’s a joke, say “it didn’t really happen” which is absolutely appalling.
I believe that some are disjointed from the madness that ensued that day. People that live farther away, who couldn’t see the smoke in the air, weren’t breathing in the dust, didn’t wait for word from their friends and family in the city, some don’t really understand the absolute terror. But I do understand their position.
To some extent, we are all guilty of a certain apathetic nature when we are detached from the devestation. The tsunami killed over 200,000 people. And we Americans, we believed it was a tragedy. We gave money, canned goods, and clothing out. We mourned for the loss of people’s families; but beyond that, were we really personally influenced?
If my father wasn’t working in the city, if I couldn’t see the smoke from Bear Mountain…would I still sustain this unwavering opinion? I can’t answer that, which leads me to a confusing point concerning these films. Will I go see them? I think so. I’d like to see how the events are portrayed by the ever so popular Hollywood media. I’d like non New Yorkers and non coastal New Jersey folk to watch the films, if only to be provided with an alternative perspective.
Regardless of how soon it is I’ve realized, unfortunately, that capitalizing on people’s curiousity and pain is a lot more appealing than preserving decency and respect for an adequate period of reflection. I do feel it is too soon, but I can only hope the films are done respectfully…I’m not holding my breath.
I suppose I should go write my papers now…bah
Plain and simple…if you didn’t personally know anyone killed or aren’t from New York or New Jersey or Connecticut, or even Pennsylvania…you can’t possibly understand the collective emotions experienced on 9/11.
Oh, that’s right. Nobody else could possibly understand…
It’s interesting that you use the word “emotions.” I think that’s precisely the word to describe this entire conversation–an emotional backlash against other people’s opinions. The facts that you were so close to the attacks and that you knew people who died only make you less objective.
I don’t care what anybody says about Hollywood motives or the feelings of the victims. Plain and simple, people have the right to express themselves and their opinions. If you’re annoyed or offended, you can express your own opinion. But there’s no such thing as ‘too soon’ for people to discuss an event, even a tragic one.
It’s incredibly hypocritical that the same people who defend the rights of the Danish newspapers to publish cartoons want to stop people from filming movies about 9/11.
I never said don’t film…I said the people of this country need to see it in the movies in order to understand it. The news doesn’t capture those emotions. Krish says, “don’t film” out of respect.
I never denied Hollywood’s right to express their “opinion,” Timothy (is this even an opinion to begin with?). They can go on happily expressing themselves up the wazoo. Their right to make the movie is not what I’m contesting. I’m commenting on whether or not they should actually do it. For example, I have the right to sue my dad for child support. Fine. Am I actually going to do it? No. There’s a difference.
Dear Tim,
Maybe I’m lost, but isn’t this whole comment thing supposed to be about our own views? I didn’t think anyone was really attacking the right to speech, views, etc. But you criticize people for their opinions in one breath then support everyone’s right to an opinion at all in the next. You state “If you’re annoyed or offended, you can express your own opinion,” yet don’t want to accept “too soon” as a valid opinion. I personally would like to know what point you are really trying to make.
Also, I thought this was an intellectual journal where people could share their thoughts and perspectives on suggested topics, and not act defensive and sarcastic with each other. It’s just a forum, relax people.
That’s my little commentary for the day. I really don’t mean any harm.
I think it’s interesting that several movies are being made to portray different aspects of the events. I mean, Oliver Stone’s project is communicating from the perspectives of survivors, “Flight 93″ is sort of an inside look on the ‘making’ of the tragedy, the Adam Sandler one deals with victims-by-proxy and the aftermath (as does Stone’s, but his story is transgressed by the fact that the two main people have experienced both sides of the event), and that last one zeroes in on a particular segment. I wonder how much “recreate” will bleed into “translate” and/or “interpret,” and I also wonder what exactly these filmmakers’ intentions are. I’m not implying any cynicism on my part, merely detached curiosity. I wonder where and how these accounts will mesh into one another and how long it will be before the public becomes jaded by the entire package. I personally have no plans to see the films, but I wonder how much of America will be piqued by its collective curiosity to subject itself to such poignant recollection.
And one more thing: does anybody *really* take Nicholas Cage seriously? Just wondering.
Extremely interesting thought…that through each of these movies one can gain full perspective of the event (before, intermediate, after). The point of film i think is to gain new perspective, or, what most people believe, escape reality. I’d like to think that when I see a film, I’m not trying to escape reality. That’s my personal opinion. I believe that, more or less, when I see a film I’m widening my perspective on life…to include different time periods, different social classes, and in this case a personal perspective into a tragedy. Although I already have a personal perspective into the tragedy that is September 11th, I may see the films in order to gain the perspective that I missed out on…to be in Lower Manhattan on that fate-filled day.
I think the jaded factor that Gong was ruminating over already has manifested itself at least once; I’m not sure if people remember, but the media coverage of the event was, appropriately, overwhelming. However, I definitely think that using the same sensational images over and over again kind of got to some viewers. At least for me, after a while I stopped getting emotionally into the news casts even though I was geographically close to Ground Zero. The saturation was just too crazy and repetitive for alot of people.
I’m more worried about the Hollywood-ization not necessarily of the films themselves but of the promotion for the films; film is art, but selling a film doesn’t have the same taste and veracity concerns. I can just see the same sensationalized images being used for some 30 second commercial promoting one of those films while I’m watching some TV show and then having to see the same commercial three more times that hour. That’s possibly one kind of exposure that’ll get to people in, perhaps, a not-so-positive way.