Films about 11th September, often referring to the tragic events of September 11, 2001, have been a subject of interest for filmmakers, exploring the impact of the terrorist attacks on individuals, communities, and the world at large. These films often delve into themes of heroism, resilience, loss, and the human spirit in the face of adversity.
“United 93”, 2006
Director: Paul Greengrass
Directed by Paul Greengrass, “United 93” is a gripping real-time account of the events aboard United Airlines Flight 93, one of the planes hijacked on September 11, 2001. The film portrays the passengers' brave attempt to regain control of the aircraft, ultimately leading to its crash in a Pennsylvania field, thwarting the hijackers' intended target.
Starring: Christian Clemenson, Cheyenne Jackson, David Alan Basche, Peter Hermann, Corey Johnson, Daniel Sauli, Trish Gates, Richard Bekins, Michael J. Reynolds, Khalid Abdalla, J.J. Johnson, Gary Commock, Polly Adams, Opal Alladin, Starla Benford, Nancy McDoniel, Susan Blommaert, Ray Charleson, Liza Colón-Zayas, Lorna Dallas, Denny Dillon, Trieste Kelly Dunn, Kate Jennings Grant, Tara Hugo, Marceline Hugot, Joe Jamrog, Masato Kamo, Becky London, Peter Marinker, Jodie Lynne McClintock, Libby Morris, Tom O'Rourke, Simon Poland, David Rasche, Erich Redman, John Rothman, Rebecca Schull, Chloe Sirene, Olivia Thirlby, Chip Zien, Leigh Zimmerman, Lewis Alsamari, Omar Berdouni, Jamie Harding, Thomas Roberts, Michael Bencal, Tom Fitzgerald, Bard Marques, John Moraitis, Scott Tourin;
Production year: 2006;
Genre: action, thriller, drama, history;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 111 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,6;
More information about the film “United 93” on the website imdb.com
“World Trade Center”, 2006
Director: Oliver Stone
Directed by Oliver Stone, “World Trade Center” tells the true story of two Port Authority police officers, John McLoughlin and Will Jimeno, who become trapped under the rubble of the World Trade Center following the attacks. The film focuses on their harrowing ordeal and the tireless rescue efforts to save them.
Starring: Nicolas Cage, Michael Peña, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Maria Bello, Stephen Dorff, Jay Hernandez, Michael Shannon, Jude Ciccolella, Connor Paolo, Anthony Piccininni, Alexa Gerasimovich, Morgan Flynn, Armando Riesco, Joe Starr, Jon Bernthal, Nick Damici, Martin Pfefferkorn, Razame de la Crackers, Nelson Peña, Marcos Palma, Andre Ward, Lisa Yuen, Cliff Bemis, Harmonica Sunbeam, Ned Eisenberg, Nicholas Turturro, Danny Nucci, Tyree Michael Simpson, Kevin Feely, Mark Elliot Wilson, Tawny Cypress, Robert Blanche, Tom Wright, Terry Quinn, Ed Jewett, Maria Helan, Brad William Henke, Patti D'Arbanville, Donna Murphy, Nicky Katt, Lucia Brawley, Kimberly Scott, Dara Coleman, Tiffany Romano, Gregory Jbara, Jordan Lage, Wass Stevens, Peter McRobbie, Dorothy Lyman;
Production year: 2006;
Genre: thriller, drama, history;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 129 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6;
More information about the film “World Trade Center” on the website imdb.com
“Reign Over Me”, 2007
Director: Mike Binder
Directed by Mike Binder, this film follows the story of a man, Charlie Fineman, played by Adam Sandler, who lost his family in the 9/11 attacks and struggles to cope with the trauma. The movie explores themes of grief, friendship, and the long-lasting effects of the tragedy on survivors.
Starring: Adam Sandler, Don Cheadle, Jada Pinkett Smith, Liv Tyler, Saffron Burrows, Donald Sutherland, Robert Klein, Melinda Dillon, Mike Binder, Jonathan Banks, Rae Allen, Paula Newsome, John de Lancie, Paul Butler, Camille LaChe Smith, Imani Hakim, Denise Dowse, Anthony Chisholm, B.J. Novak, Jessica Golden, Ted Raimi, Harris Peet, Molly Binder, Tommy Nohilly, Robert Harvey, Nick Taylor, M.D. Walton, Chad Brigockas, Elizabeth Andrews, Neal Young, Lela Loren, Gina Fricchione, Diana Gettinger, Karen Huie, Lou Irizarry, Andre Johnson, Joey King, Lester G. Reynolds, Arick Salmea, Nick Vlassopoulos, Lisa Yaro;
Production year: 2007;
Genre: drama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 124 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,4;
More information about the film “Reign Over Me” on the website imdb.com
“Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close”, 2011
Director: Stephen Daldry
Directed by Stephen Daldry, this adaptation of Jonathan Safran Foer's novel centers around a young boy named Oskar Schell, who embarks on a quest through New York City to find the lock that matches a key left behind by his father, who perished in the World Trade Center on 9/11. The film explores themes of loss, healing, and the power of human connection.
Starring: Thomas Horn, Max von Sydow, Tom Hanks, Sandra Bullock, Jeffrey Wright, Viola Davis, John Goodman, Zoe Caldwell, Dennis Hearn, Paul Klementowicz, Julian Tepper, Caleb Reynolds, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Lorna Pruce, Hazelle Goodman, Bernadette Drayton, David Latham, Marty Krzywonos, Jim Norton, Carmen M. Herlihy, Ryka Dottavio, Chloe Roe, Diane Cheng, Gregory Korostishevsky, Adrian Martinez, Marco Verna, Brandon Jeffers, Martin E. Brens, Gustavo Brens, Brooke Bloom, Rene Ojeda, Madison Arnold, Henry Morales-Ballet, Bryse Gregory, William Youmans, Kit Flanagan, Erika Helen Smith, Ray Iannicelli, Miguel Jarquin-Moreland, Benjamin McCracken, Malachi Weir, John Joseph Gallagher, Sam K. Kaufman, Stephen Kunken, Kim Rideout, Chloe Elaine Scharf, Eva Kaminsky, Chris Hardwick, Kate Levy, Stephanie Kurtzuba;
Production year: 2011;
Genre: drama, detective, adventure;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 129 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,9;
More information about the film “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close” on the website imdb.com
“The Looming Tower”, 2018
Director: Craig Zisk, John Dahl, Ali Selim, Michael Slovis
Although not a film, “The Looming Tower” is a miniseries based on Lawrence Wright's Pulitzer Prize-winning nonfiction book. The series chronicles the rising threat of Osama bin Laden and Al-Qaeda in the late 1990s and how the rivalry between the FBI and CIA may have inadvertently set the stage for the tragic events of 9/11.
Starring: Jeff Daniels, Tahar Rahim, Wrenn Schmidt, Bill Camp, Louis Cancelmi, Virginia Kull, Ella Rae Peck, Sullivan Jones, Michael Stuhlbarg, Peter Sarsgaard, Annie Parisse, Jamie Neumann, Jenny Paul, Sharon Washington, Erica Cho, Alec Baldwin, Katie Flahive, Tawfeek Barhom, Jordan Lage, Kimberly S. Fairbanks, Yul Vazquez, Al Faris, Nebras Jamali, Samer Bisharat, July Namir, Craig Wroe, Michael Quinlan, Ken Arnold, Ali Suliman, Katie Finneran, Mark Hildreth, Zaki Youssef, Tasha Lawrence, Jennifer Ehle, Eisa Davis, Youssef Berouain, Eyad Nassar, Dhafer L'Abidine, Mohamad Ashraf, Joe Corrigall, Sami Karim, Hicham Belaoudi, Ayman Samman, Ashley Leyva, Angelina Leyva, Jill Dalton, Jonathan Hogan, Hélène Cardona, Guillaume Dabinpons, Valeria Zunzun;
Production year: 2018;
Genre: drama, history;
Rating: IMDB: 8;
More information about the film “The Looming Tower” on the website imdb.com
These films offer a variety of perspectives on the impact of 9/11, capturing the emotional, heroic, and tragic aspects of that fateful day and its aftermath.
In exploring the selection of films about 9/11, it becomes evident that these cinematic portrayals have served as a powerful means of reflection and remembrance. Through their unique storytelling techniques, these films capture the raw emotions and harrowing experiences of that tragic day, inviting audiences to empathize with the victims, the heroes, and the collective grief of a nation. From poignant narratives to gripping documentaries, these films not only shed light on the events of 9/11 but also offer a platform for healing, unity, and resilience. By commemorating the lives lost and honoring the acts of bravery, these films serve as a testament to the indomitable human spirit in the face of adversity, leaving a lasting impact on both the cinematic landscape and our collective memory.
