A Tale of Two Heroes

Director Oliver Stone’s World Trade Center follows the true story of John McLoughlin and Will Jimeno, two Port Authority Police Department officers who rushed into one of the burning towers on Sept. 11 to help rescue people, but became trapped themselves when the towers collapsed.

It is the second feature film of the year to address the terrorist attacks of almost five years ago.

Unlike April’s United 93, which recreated the doomed trip, from takeoff to hijacking to the realization by the passengers onboard that their plane was part of a coordinated attack unfolding on the ground beneath them, World Trade Center is told from the point of view of the first responders on the scene at Ground Zero.

This makes the film more relatable, as it vividly captures the confusion and uncertainty of what was going on in New York City. We were right there with the rest of America and the world that morning, yet Sgt. McLoughlin (Nicolas Cage), Officer Jimeno (Crash's Michael Peña), and countless others were actually there.

This film, which co-stars Maria Bello and Maggie Gyllenhaal as their respective agonizing wives, is a testament to their courage.

I know the question among some moviegoers remains: Is it too soon for such a film? My answer, much like it was in the spring, is no. I still think it is not too soon to be reminded of a tragedy that changed the course of our lives – especially considering that its effects are still very much felt today.

Stone may have his least controversial “controversial” film in World Trade Center. It is a pretty dignified and straightforward account of events, with nary a hint of a political stance. This is a good thing.

Sept. 11 happened; it is part of our reality – to pretend otherwise is disingenuous. So, again, it is not too soon, especially when, cinematically speaking, the remembrance is respectful and well executed.

My Rating ****

Photo: Paramount Pictures.