Toocooltoobefooled
It has a low budget feel to it, but then again, most of it takes place in an elevator, so no big budget is needed here. I'm not really sure why there are so many negative reviews, no it's not an Oscar movie, but it's pretty good. Five people trapped in an elevator during the horrific events of 9/11. A micro story of the millions that can be written of that day. I felt the movie captured the confusion, the desperation, and the horror we all felt. I thought all the actors did a fine job, if I have to criticize anyone, it would be Woopi. Her acting seemed flat and disconnected to me. At the end I felt angst, which meant I connected and more, it brought that horrible day back to me. I remember where I was, what I thought and how the realization of what was happening evolved with each report of yet another plane. The movie brought it all back. All that said, if I saw this in the theater I agree I would likely have a much different opinion, but I rented this movie and watched it at home. I think its worth a rental. Fairly well done, could it be better, sure, but for what it is, it's enough.
Prismark10
9/11 is based on Patrick James Carson's play Elevator. It is a low budget film about five people trapped in an elevator in the north tower of the World Trade Center on 11 September 2001.I still remember a work colleague in Britain telling me what happened during that day. The way he described it I was not sure whether he was joking or not or whether the whole thing was just incredulous. I tried to go on the BBC news website and it took ages for it to download the headline page because of the volume of the net traffic.Charlie Sheen and Gina Gershon are a couple on the verge of divorce. He is a billionaire, the lift they use suddenly stops. Luis Guzman plays a worker in the lift who contacts Whoopie Goldberg who works in the maintenance room.The five people in the elevator are initially unaware as to what has happened but slowly they become aware especially via Goldberg what is happening all around them and they need to get out of the elevator quickly.The film does look a bit cheap and quickly shot but the actors give passionate and earnest performances, especially as it dawns on them as to the peril they are in and something very serious has taken place.Even the audience would fear the worse for these five people and that they make not make it out alive.The film does draw you in and rather captivates you as it goes along even though at times you also feel the film is manipulative. I can understand why the movie was accused of bad taste because of its release date near the date of the disaster.
dmega-64163
I really don't get the negative reviews. The movie starts with some background into the characters and delves a bit deeper into those during the movie. I started to identify with each and sat on the edge of my seat encouraging them to escape. Although a bit slow at times, and mostly filmed in an elevator, the build-up of the fear and personal closeness in the characters combined with their determination to survive was riveting to watch. There is some action and scenes in other locations to keep the pace going. Solid performances by Whoopi Goldberg, Charlie Sheen and all the other cast makes this a must watch. The ending sealed the deal for me, I won't spoil it but it's in my opinion the most emotional part.
