United 93 Fails to Live Up to Potential

By Richard Blake, published May 23, 2006
Published Content: 25  Total Views: 9,589  Favorited By: 2 CPs
Contact  Subscribe   Add to Favorites
Rating: 4.0 of 5
 
Font
 
Font
 
Grab this
Fortunately, A&E, the Discovery Channel and who knows who else have all decided to compose odes to the heroes of Flight 93 (apparently almost simultaneously), after years of being told by studios that it was "too soon."  As a screenplay writer who pitched my own version, Remember Flight 93 to quite of number of different studios, I was aware of all of the pitfalls.  Still I believed that it was a story that needed to become a part of the American story, and since no one knows for certain what happened on board Flight 93 that day, a part of the American mythos.  

First, there was the problem of securing the cooperation of Flight 93 families.  Todd Beamer's wife, Lisa Beamer, had started a foundation, originally named the Todd Beamer Foundation and later changed to Heroic Choices, that handled all communications on her behalf.  The foundation had stated that Mrs. Beamer would not respond to any correspondence and that she did not approve of ANY artistic interpretation of what happened on Flight 93, preferring to "keep his (Todd Beamer's) memory pure."  

If that were not enough, the sister of Donald Greene, the Flight 93 passenger who might have been able to pilot the plane if the passenger revolt had been able to succeed in retaking control of the cockpit before the hijackers could crash it, had become influenced by some shameless 911 conspiracy theorists and was in emotional turmoil, now seeing the warm reception the Flight 93 families received at the White House as "cynical."  

"United 93" apparently decided to deal with these difficulties and most others by simply not dealing with them.   None of the heroic passengers are identified by name.  The poignant cellphone conversations with loved ones are never shown on split screen.  Most of the action actually takes place in one of the Flight Control centers and the main character appears to be the head of communications who has just returned from vacation. 

 
Share
 
Save For Later
 
Publish Yours
 
Print
More by Richard Blake
View all »
You may also like...
Other topics: 
Did You Know?
I was one of the authors of an alternative "Flight 93" screenplay
Comments
Type in Your Comments Below - (1000 characters left)
Your name:

Submit your own content on this or any topic. Get started »
Most Commented On