You Knew It Was Coming: Greengrass to Open Tribeca with 'United 93'
Don’t look now, but Paul Greengrass is preparing “the DNA of our times” to open the Tribeca Film Festival. The real-time 9/11 film United 93, neé Flight 93, will premiere downtown April 25, and if you have not yet viewed the trailer (“From Paul Greengrass, director of Bloody Sunday and The Bourne Supremacy,” natch), you just cannot know what kind of misbegotten treat you are in for.
“But STV, you asshole,” you say. “You have not even seen the film!” True, but I have had to listen to this clown Greengrass soup up the drama of 9/11 to sell his movie for the last seven months, and so far, it looks like a History Channel reenactment: Flight attendants saying they “want to get home to see my babies”; scary, swarthy Muslims; military men barking into headsets; and all the other usual suspects.
And now Greengrass himself is back to leading the publicity charge:
“The events of 9/11 had a massive effect on me, like everyone, and I wanted to use my position as a filmmaker to contribute something so they are not casually forgotten,” stated Greengrass. “United 93 tells one story of that morning and I hope that by showing the film at Tribeca, whose roots and inspiration grew in response to the devastation of 9/11, we will be reminded of the courage of all those on board and also the thousands of men and women who confronted similarly unimaginable scenarios in New York and Washington. By honoring the families who lost those they loved, I hope we can ensure that their sacrifice is remembered and hopefully seek wisdom in the future.”
Yeah, well, check it out, Paul: We have a 16-acre hole in the ground where the World Trade Center used to be. And while we all appreciate you “using your position as a filmmaker” to jog our memories, nobody around here–especially in Tribeca–has “casually forgotten” much of anything about 9/11. Please, for once, let your film roll and just… stop… talking.
UPDATE: Cinematical’s Martha Fischer writes that TFF organizers are playing it verrrrrrrry safe with United 93‘s premiere:
Instead of a traditional red carpet arrival ceremony, complete with a glamorous party following the opening event, the screening will be private, open only to the families of victims, first responders, and festival staff. Press will be accommodated in an overflow room, but will not be allowed into the actual theater. The screening itself will be followed by what is being called a “low-key conversation dinner,” again with limited attendance. In addition, out of respect for the those affected by the events of 9/11, the opening will not be held in the Tribeca (the neighborhood that is home to Ground Zero); negotiations are currently underway to hold it at [a] landmark theater in midtown Manhattan.
Come on STV. Being a little unfair, arent we? If anythying you should be upset that the movie is about United 93, and not one of the WTC Flights. Nevertheless, they would all basicaly end the same way. On a personal level I’m upset that they couldnt bet any REAL actors for these roles. I mean Matt Damon as the gay guy would have been great!
United 93 is going to be this year’s The Passion of the Christ. I’ll be surprised if megachurches don’t organize screenings.
Martyrdom&victimization is their bread&butter.