United 93 Opens Tomorrow

The London Times reported yesterday about the world premiere of United 93 in New York. It was attended by family members of the victims and others:

The audience included former Senator Bob Kerrey, a member of the official 9/11 inquiry; New York’s police commissioner Ray Kelly; actor Steve Buscemi, a former fireman who joined the rescue effort at Ground Zero; and the real-life air-traffic controllers who played themselves in the movie.

The Times reported that the family members sobbed, and even wailed.

"It’s horrific to see my brother Edward on the screen, knowing what is going to happen," said Gordon Felt. "It’s shattering, but it needs to be. This is a violent story."

"Some people will not want to see the film. People find the subject too hard. I respect that," [British writer-director Paul] Greengrass acknowledged. But, he added, "Remembering is painful. It’s diffcult. But it can be inspiring and it can bring wisdom."

With all the anti-war lefties in Hollywood, here's something that surprised and impressed me:

But Robert De Niro’s Tribeca Film Festival - founded to revive the lower Manhattan neighbourhood after the 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center - insisted on holding the premiere of Greengrass’s film.

I'll try supporting De Niro's movies when I can, because it looks like he gets it.

And I'll be there to see the movie this weekend, so Hollywood can have one more chance to get the message that America wants to see movies that aren't hit-pieces on the Heartland and the things we value.

Universal Pictures, the distributor, announced it would donate 10 per cent of the first weekend’s box office to a memorial for the Flight 93 victims.

Let's hope the memorial doesn't turn political.

Update:

Hugh Hewitt has a link to an Opinion Journal column by United 93 passenger Todd Beamer's father, David Beamer. He recommends everyone see the movie.

Hugh also links to John Podhoretz's review of the movie, which ends this way:

There's no reason to fear United 93. It is a riveting examination of an unbearable moment. Not only can we take it, we can also rise to the challenge it presents--both to us, and to those who would treat Americans as though they were hothouse flowers incapable of feeling the "right way" about September 11.