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World Trade Center
3.5 of 4 Stars
Rated: PG-13 for Violence and Language
Director:
Oliver Stone
Writer:
Andrea Berloff
Starring:
Nicolas Cage, Michael Peña, Maria Bello, Maggie Gyllenhaal
Oliver Stone, the most controversial figurehead in Hollywood, having directing
such movies as “Platoon,” “JFK” and even the titanic bomb “Alexander,” takes
the helm of the 9/11 biopic “World Trade Center.” Oliver Stone is known to be
one of the most ardent left-wing liberals known to the public eye, even
causing most liberals to want to keep their distance. However, for some odd
reason, it appears that Oliver Stone has decided to NOT go political on us
with this recent movie, instead directing one of the most pro-family, pro-
country and pro-Christian movies in recent memory. While talking to fellow
critic Michael Medved here in Seattle (Michael saw a previous screening of
this movie) he stated “it was like Oliver Stone was trying to make up for all of
his past sins with this movie.” I couldn’t agree more.
Many people may have assumed this movie to be about tragedy and disaster
but that could not be further from the truth. World Trade Center is about the
immediate aftermath of the attack and focuses on hope, courage and faith
while exploring the circumstance that occurred when two men went into the
first tower and it collapsed around them. Nicholas Cage and Jay Hernandez
play two police officers who try to help save those who are trapped on the
higher floors and in elevator shafts of Tower One. When they arrive, they
bravely charge the building with all of the passion and gusto that one might
expect from modern day heroes. Suddenly, their world rumbles and collapses
around them and they are trapped under the rubble of the fallen tower where
they come face to face with their mortality as they cry out to the Lord, and to
depend on each other and the memories of loved ones for survival.
I can’t even begin to tell you how amazing this movie is. The spiritual
analogies are astounding and any political agenda is completely absent from
this movie. Oliver Stone, for some shocking reason, uses Jesus Christ as the
inspiration many of the key players hold onto and believe in. Traditionally, the
Catholic Church has tended to be the main representation of Christianity in
Hollywood. In World Trade Center however, Stone dumps the stereotypical
clichés and uses a Pentecostal church member as someone who feels that
the Lord is calling him to help with the rescue operation. Following the Lord’s
leading, he travels to Ground Zero and begins his personal journey with the
Lord. At this point many people may be thinking as I was, “oh great, another
Christian represented as a whack job,” however that is not at all the case.
This Christian man is the reason why the rescue operation was a success
and his calling was considered righteous. There is another circumstance that
actually caused an African-American gentlemen in the theater to yell out
“Hallelujah! Preach it!” Jay Hernandez is buried under the rubble and
Nicholas Cage is telling him, “Stay awake or you’ll die!” Jay is on the verge of
dying from a crushed body and severe dehydration, and as he starts to fall
asleep Jay has a vision. A light (Jesus Christ) comes to him and Jesus leans
over and gives him a bottle of water. This happens twice in the movie and is
an awesome vision of the Lord taking care of those who love him. Jay wakes
up and yells “Hey guess what I just saw! I saw Jesus and he gave me a bottle
of water!”
I can go on and on about how many times Jesus is mentioned and how
Christianity is shouted from the hill tops in a positive light. I was amazed and
completely shocked.
Many people are wondering, as I was, about the representation of President
Bush in the movie. There is one time where he is shown on the news and the
President is portayed as courageous and resolute. This was a prime
opportunity for Oliver Stone to crush Bush but he chose to stick to the facts
and truth, which blew me away.
I have been asked if I cried in this movie. I did actually tear up a bit but not as
much as one might have expected, the reason being this movie is so focused
on the heroes of 9/11 and not the tragedy itself. This is a movie about hope,
not anger; about the strength of our country, not the failures. The first 20
minutes are numbing to say the least; however they did NOT show the planes
flying into the buildings so you are not left with reliving the past, thank God!
Here is a quick tidbit of information about Nicholas Cage in the movie. You will
probably notice that he looks almost like a walking skeleton and you may ask
yourself “why is he so skinny?” His next movie called “Ghost Rider,” which he
filmed back-to-back with this movie, is about a man who is some kind of
superhero skeleton by night and a normal guy by day, hence the weight loss.
Also, for all of you who have been wanting another National Treasure, your
wish is coming true. National Treasure 2 is in pre-production now and is due
for a 2008 release.
Parental Warning:
I highly recommend this movie to anyone over 10 years old. There is a little
bit of foul language but not much. Obviously, the subject matter can be hard
to handle, however you will quickly find that this to be a very positive movie.
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