Although a few exceptional motion pictures have been based upon the tragic events which occurred in the United States on September 11, 2001—including 2002's "The Guys," Oliver Stone's "World Trade Center" from 2006, and Paul Greenglass' "United 93" from the same year—the new picture "9/11" is not among them. Not hardly. Not even close.
"9/11" is adapted from a 2011 stage piece written by Patrick Carson entitled "Elevator," originally presented at the Pima Community College in Tuscon, Arizona. Retitled "9/11," the picture concerns a group of five people trapped in an elevator in the World Trade Center's North Tower, working together to try to free themselves after the impact of the first airplane.
Present in the elevator are Charlie Sheen and Gina Gershon as a bickering couple on the cusp of divorce, a bicycle messenger played by Wood Harris, the Russian-born actress Olga Fonda as wealthy man's mistress, and a janitor played by the talented character actor Luis Guzman. Working to help save the five are a dedicated group which includes WTC elevator controller Whoopi Goldberg.
Adapted by Carson's minimalist stage piece by Steven Goleblowski, Martin Guigui, and Carson himself and directed by Guigui, "9/11" reduces the September 11 attacks to the proportions of a low budget, made-for-television disaster movie, complete with the one- dimensional, stereotypical characterizations usually found in that genre.
As a result, "9/11" seems almost to border on blasphemy, trivializing the enormous gravity of the events of that day, inexplicably subtracting from the narrative the almost limitless emotional intensity present in the tragedy.
Charlie Sheen is a particularly unfortunate choice for casting in a picture which purports to depict the experiences of September 11. The actor's irresponsible and often clownish offscreen antics have likely prohibited him from ever again being considered a viable actor, apparently even in the realm of television situation comedy.
Sheen a decade ago was additionally responsible for remarks which seemed to suggest the September 11 attacks were a hoax perpetrated by the liberal press remarks for which Sheen has recently apologized, apparently for reasons related to the release of this film, but conspicuously has not retracted.
"9/11" mines for financial profit the abomination and infinite heartbreak of September 11, and as such is an assault not only on popular culture, but also on our shared heritage. The release of the picture to coincide with the sixteenth anniversary of the tragedy stinks of exploitation.
Just ignore this one—without any attention at the box office, "9/11" will disappear quickly on its own merits or its lack of them.
"9/11" is adapted from a 2011 stage piece written by Patrick Carson entitled "Elevator," originally presented at the Pima Community College in Tuscon, Arizona. Retitled "9/11," the picture concerns a group of five people trapped in an elevator in the World Trade Center's North Tower, working together to try to free themselves after the impact of the first airplane.
Present in the elevator are Charlie Sheen and Gina Gershon as a bickering couple on the cusp of divorce, a bicycle messenger played by Wood Harris, the Russian-born actress Olga Fonda as wealthy man's mistress, and a janitor played by the talented character actor Luis Guzman. Working to help save the five are a dedicated group which includes WTC elevator controller Whoopi Goldberg.
Adapted by Carson's minimalist stage piece by Steven Goleblowski, Martin Guigui, and Carson himself and directed by Guigui, "9/11" reduces the September 11 attacks to the proportions of a low budget, made-for-television disaster movie, complete with the one- dimensional, stereotypical characterizations usually found in that genre.
As a result, "9/11" seems almost to border on blasphemy, trivializing the enormous gravity of the events of that day, inexplicably subtracting from the narrative the almost limitless emotional intensity present in the tragedy.
Charlie Sheen is a particularly unfortunate choice for casting in a picture which purports to depict the experiences of September 11. The actor's irresponsible and often clownish offscreen antics have likely prohibited him from ever again being considered a viable actor, apparently even in the realm of television situation comedy.
Sheen a decade ago was additionally responsible for remarks which seemed to suggest the September 11 attacks were a hoax perpetrated by the liberal press remarks for which Sheen has recently apologized, apparently for reasons related to the release of this film, but conspicuously has not retracted.
"9/11" mines for financial profit the abomination and infinite heartbreak of September 11, and as such is an assault not only on popular culture, but also on our shared heritage. The release of the picture to coincide with the sixteenth anniversary of the tragedy stinks of exploitation.
Just ignore this one—without any attention at the box office, "9/11" will disappear quickly on its own merits or its lack of them.