I. Introduction
film about 9/11, in recent years in an endless stream, which works good and bad, for a description 9.11 but mostly vague ambiguous, many of whom are thought-provoking boutique, for example, from the 11 In "11'09"01" directed by directors from different countries, the tenth episode is a masterpiece by American director Sean Pan. It describes an old man living near the World Trade Center who wakes up early in the morning and faces the deceased wife. Suddenly, the building collapsed, the shaded sunlight penetrated in, and the withered flowers on the window sill were suddenly vibrant, and the old man finally showed his long-lost smile. For a long time, Americans only value their own. Feeling, ignoring the pain imposed on others, the building collapsed, and the rejuvenating flower is precisely the tolerance and care that has long been ignored by Americans. Michael Moore’s "Fahrenheit 9.11" Using a joking and spoof method, it attacked the Bush administration's use of 9/11 to exclude dissidents, which made people laugh with tears. In addition, the documentary films of the past few years have completely explored 9/11. , black and white to the enemy, who is right? appears increasingly complicated and confusing.
Second, the sense of "World Trade Center" analysis
in the fifth year after the September 11 incident where a accustomed to expose the evils of war, political scandals and human nature The distorted director Oliver Stone revisited the past and filmed this "World Trade Center" with the background of 9.11. To everyone's expectations, this is a warm and silent film, which is completely different from Stone's previous works. It is different. I am surprised and savored carefully, but I have to admire Stone's unique vision. Historical things require the precipitation of the age and long-term reflection. It is undoubtedly an irresponsible performance to mention it hastily, just like Stone himself Said: "I am a playwright and don't follow the news. Someone asked, why don’t you shoot stories about Iraq? And I want to say, let me see what happened, and see it after the years. "I only shot it 15 years after the Vietnam War, 30 years after Kennedy's death, and 25 years after Nixon's fall..."
In a state where everything is not clear, Stone chose another way of expressing 9.11. As he said, people seem to have no real understanding of "September 11". They care too much about the political significance of the event and ignore it. To pay attention to the incident itself. The sequelae it brings are gradually being forgotten by people. In just five years, September 11 has gradually faded in people’s memory. The grieving ones cannot bear to look back, and the ignorant ones are insensitive. At this moment, they regain the feelings of the time and relive the care and warmth derived from the disaster. The grief of the families of the victims has a special meaning to lift up the long-lost touch in the hearts of outsiders.
At the beginning of the year, Paul Greengrass’s "Flight 93" and the story of "World Trade Center" were adapted from real events. John McLaughlin (Nicholas Cage) and Will Gimeno (Michael Pena) ) Are really unique. This gives the film a little more realism and proximity than "Flight 93". The same tragedy, "Flight 93" is a kind of desperate helplessness. The hijacked passengers on the plane call home to say goodbye to their loved ones. People can only sit and watch their loved ones die, and cannot do anything. Greengrass virtualized the confrontation and struggle between the passengers on Flight 93 and the hijackers, which seemed to commemorate the past, and it seemed to uncover people's scars. In contrast, "World Trade Center" appears to be much more tender. If there is sin, there will be kindness, and when there is pain, it will be about love. The 9/11 incident has allowed people to see the long-lost conscience again, and the hope for survival on the verge of death. The enterprise is even more touching. Yes, this is another heroic story, but the protagonist is not an invulnerable Superman, nor a heroic Batman, but two responsible policemen, flesh and blood, but with perseverance that ordinary people can't match. The film has changed Oliver Stone's previous clear political stance and critical consciousness, but has added a human light, like a affectionate hand, healing people's scars. This is rare for Stone. Although some people blamed Stone for being utterly depressed, in my opinion, this may be regarded as a breakthrough for Stone, no matter how charming the past works, indulging in the past. Achievement, it is inevitable to let myself step into jail, leaving behind the "Vietnam War Trilogy" ("Field Platoon", "Born on July 4th" and "Heaven and Earth") war reflections, and "Assassination of Kennedy" and " The political critique of Nixon and the rebellious madness of The Gate and The Born Murderer focus on an emotional management, which shows that Stone's performance themes are constantly expanding, slowly coming from the defeat of "Alexander." , He is refreshing today.
Some people say that "World Trade Center" does not look like Oliver Stone's movie, but it is not. This is a film with a clear Stone style. Like "Field Platoon", the film is based on characters in the context of an event. In the event, 9/11 connected all the characters together, the Marines, rescue police, the victims' relatives... and the film, like "Nixon", was edited in time and space to more completely reproduce the appearance of the day of the incident. The calm documentary shots are in the same line as previous works. In addition, some scenes such as the dazzling light in "Born on July 4th", the unique ending subtitles, and the protagonist before the end of the film, such as "Field Platoon" The profound monologues that are so alarming are all marked with a deep Stone brand. Movie music is also the same as before, while paying attention to the sense of the scene, it is permeated with affection that matches the keynote of the film.
3. Plot analysis
"World Trade Center" begins in an ordinary and quiet morning. The early police officer John affectionately bids farewell to his wife and children who are still sleeping, and hurries to work. In the police station, it is routine to assign tasks and perform tasks. The bustling New York street people come and go. No one thought that in the near future, a tragic disaster will be born. For an informed audience, this kind of scene is unavailable. Unlike the mountains and the rain, the wind is full of the building, Stone creates a kind of peace before disaster strikes, which is so wonderful and heartbreaking. A huge shadow passing, a loud noise, a shock, television is filled with smoke of the World Trade Center ......
astounded, speculation about the accident? revenge? No one knows. Near the World Trade Building, confetti was flying, falling bodies, dripping blood, and tears of grief, amid the smoke and dust, it seemed more and more cruel. A team of police entered the building to rescue them. No one thought of it. A few minutes later, they too. Buried deep under the World Trade Building, in the rubble, struggling hard, facing this dark and collapsing world, despair keeps coming. Those who kill themselves by drinking bombs, dying to sleep, and reluctant to survive, have become elusive. look forward to. In the end, two police officers, John and Will, are still fighting hard with life and death.
Stone created a gloomy and terrifying world. There was no sunlight, full of hunger, and the characters could not move. Under the reinforced concrete, there were two dusty faces. The only thing that can express their survival is that one is still Talking mouths, they encourage each other and comfort each other. From movies that fight pain, to talk about the little girls who survived the Turkish earthquake, to their wives and children, all good things have become their weapons against death. Stone's arrangement is undoubtedly very precise. They are unwilling to discuss the cause of 9/11. Obviously, this is a depressing topic, and their only purpose at the moment is to stay awake and continue to survive.
Nicholas Cage and Michael Pena performed very well in the film. The claustrophobic environment and the motionless body make the struggle on the edge of death very vivid. Such a tedious scene is undoubtedly a test of the actor's skills. And the director’s skill. The scenes of the confrontation with the god of death are all tears. There are two scenes that are worthy of doctrine, that is, Will saw Jesus in the dark, which vividly shows that they are living on the edge of life and death, and Will rejected Jesus. The water is the infinite yearning for survival. Of course, the scene where Jesus appeared for the first time seemed a bit unexpected. This scene is not unreasonably imposing suspicion, and it doesn't match the front and back. However, the scene where Jesus appeared in the back was much more perfect, smooth and smooth, with a far-reaching connotation. A near-documentary method of St. John’s, depicting the process of two policemen sinking into rubble. The scenes that seem to be a little procrastinated in other movies, but here show a unique charm. It makes the pain of the two policemen become It's true and recognizable, and it makes people empathize.
Corresponding to the two police officers is their family. This is somewhat similar to "Flight 93", but they are luckier than the people of "Flight 93", because they did not see their loved ones dying, but they were helpless in despair. Losing contact is not necessarily bad, at least while they are sad, they still stay. There is hope, and this is exactly what Stone wants to express. The most tormented in the film are John’s wife Donna and Will’s wife Alison. Seeing that there is no news from their husbands, sadness comes from them, but they cannot indulge their pain freely. Life still needs to go on, comforting children and taking care of the young and old. , Eating, buying medicine...It can be said that this is a kind of suppressed sadness, and what is transmitted through it is a heart of grief. Although the connection between the husband and wife is broken, they are connected through fantasy and nostalgia. Stone cleverly found a unique way to express the emotions of the characters, similar to the scene in "Nixon" where the president fell into memory on the gramophone, sad and charming. Donna saw the happy family scene when John taught her son to use the saw, and Alison recalled the interesting life of the husband and wife naming their unborn children. At the end of the film, it was even more touching. John, who was almost dead, heard his wife's call in secret, and finally defeated the god of death, opened his eyes, and smiled calmly in the cheers of people.
Some people say that this film has lost Stone’s clear political stance in the past, but it is not always true. There is a character worth noting, that is, the retired Marine David, when he saw the World Trade Center being hit on TV. After that, he said: "I don't know how you saw it, but this country is facing a war." After praying in the church, he shaved off his long hair, put on military uniform, mixed into the World Trade Center scene, and played a role in the rescue. An important role, in addition to expressing the compassion and love that people ignited in the face of the disaster, you can still see the position of some people on the disaster, and the ending subtitles tell us more clearly that David is again Enlisted in the army and participated in the Iraq War which was closely related to 9.11. So far Stone has completed the description of the 9/11 disaster. The film uses an insider's perspective to view the disaster. Therefore, the jailed police cannot see the collapse of the World Trade Center, nor do they know that more than one building has been hit. , And people’s speculation about the war only stays at the speculation stage. This state of being a fan of the authorities undoubtedly makes it easy for people to feel immersive.
Three, music evaluation
It is worth mentioning that the music of this film, Craig Armstrong filled the film with a lingering sadness and affection. The film is mainly based on piano and string music, whether it is the beginning to symbolize death and destiny The cello performance, or the string ensemble with girls singing in the film, or the intermittent but infinitely beautiful piano sound, are all shining with the brilliance of human nature, and a feeling of rebirth is ready to come out, and it is wonderful.
IV Conclusion
In my opinion, "World Trade Center" although not as "Platoon," "JFK," "Wall Street," the classic category, but it is indeed a fascinating movie, no matter what, Oliver Adams Tong gave us a unique and warm answer sheet, tasted it carefully, and had endless aftertastes.
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