9/11 - The Movie - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

maleficent · 11-03-2005, 09:50 AM

Quote:

NEW YORK (AP) -- Oliver Stone has begun shooting one of the first Hollywood films about September 11 in New York -- without recreating the large-scale devastation that's all too familiar to residents who lived through the 2001 attacks.

After months of meetings with community and family groups, producers of the untitled movie have promised to tread carefully on sensitive ground. Most of the major action portraying the World Trade Center collapse will be shot on a Los Angeles sound stage. And although news footage of the towers themselves will be shown during the film, it will play on television screens in the background.

"We're not doing the 'Towering Inferno'-'Titanic' version," said Michael Shamberg, who's producing the Paramount film with his partner, Stacey Sher.

Stone started shooting scenes in New York last month for his untitled film, starring Nicolas Cage as one of two policemen who survived the towers' collapse and were rescued from the trade center ruins after 22 hours.

After holding dozens of meetings, producers decided to limit their filming in the city, shooting the bulk of the action in Los Angeles and staying away from the 16-acre trade center site.

Family members who met with the producers said they still weren't sure whether Hollywood would treat September 11 with proper respect.

"Are there going to be love scenes in it? How do you portray it correctly?" said Lee Ielpi, who lost his firefighter son on September 11, and met with producers about the film. "It has to be done with some reverence."

Others said they were concerned about how Stone -- whose more controversial films include "JFK," which offered conspiracy theories about the Kennedy assassination -- might interpret the attacks in the film. In October 2001, Stone was quoted as referring to the attacks as a "revolt" against multinational corporations. But in July, Stone called the untitled project "a work of collective passion, a serious meditation on what happened, and carries within a compassion that heals."

"It's an exploration of heroism in our country -- but it's international at the same time in its humanity," he said.

'It's too close'
Charles Wolf, who lost his wife on September 11, has met with producers and asked to see a copy of Andrea Berloff's script. He said he appreciated the outreach and sensitivity of the filmmakers, but wanted to make sure that the day's events, including details as precise as the officers' view of the elevator from the rubble, are represented accurately.

"I think they need to be factual. It's too close in people's minds," Wolf said. "'Based on a true story' should not happen here."

Because Berloff's script focuses entirely on police officers John McLoughlin and William J. Jimeno's experience on September 11, the film will not interpret the politics or meaning of September 11, the producers said. Stone has taken great care to portray the event as it happened, and has worked to make sure that Cage, Michael Pena and the other actors playing officers are using authentic equipment.

"We're not doing everyone's story that day," said Shamberg. "We're trusted with the accuracy of the particular story that we're telling."

The script about McLoughlin and Jimeno also focuses on their families. The filmmakers plan to show news footage of the towers on TV screens watched by actors, the producers said.

The Stone film may not be the first studio film about September 11 to be released. "Flight 93," a Universal Studios film about the hijacked plane that left Newark, New Jersey, and crashed into a Pennsylvania field, is scheduled for an April release. Stone's film will be shooting in New York through mid-November and is tentatively scheduled to open August 11, one month before the attacks' fifth anniversary.

Other September 11 films are in development, including an adaptation of the book "102 Minutes" and a TV miniseries based on the findings of the September 11 commission.

Paramount hired Jennifer Brown, a former vice president for community development at the Lower Manhattan Development Corp. in charge of rebuilding the trade center site, to act as a liaison with the community. Brown set up more than a dozen meetings with business, community, family and survivor groups, along with police and fire officials.

Brown said that once people understood that the story was only about the officers and not about the entire story of September 11, they were supportive.

"What we've heard mostly, is just to be real," she said.

Would people actually see these movies? I can't even begin to describe how wrong I think it is...

Eweser · 11-03-2005, 10:19 AM

Personally, I don't think I will see these movies. I don't live anywhere near NYC and only saw footage on tv and I don't think I can handle those emotions again.

Bill O'Rights · 11-03-2005, 10:23 AM

I'm gonna have to take a pass on it. It's way too soon. I cannot imagine how they could undertake such a project, and have it come out tastefully done.

5757 · 11-03-2005, 10:27 AM

I would be interested in watching them. I don't think it's too soon. I agree though that they may not be done in a very tasteful way, but I'd still watch.

Daoust · 11-03-2005, 10:37 AM

Interesting how that people think that watching tragedy (especially if it's based on a real life event) is okay, so long as it is distanced by a few years from the real thing.

Making a movie about the sinking of the Titanic is okay, because most of the survivors are dead now.

I wonder how long a director should wait after a huge tradegy happens before they should make a movie about it? When is it acceptable? I'm sure it depends on whom the tragedy occurs.

It seems fitting to me that sensationalist America couldn't wait 5 years before making a movie about something as sensational as the bombing of the towers. It's just too good of material, isn't it? It's perfect movie making stuff.

And you know, I think they could make a good movie out of it. They could treat it seriously, much in the same way that Moore did with the Columbine shootings. But even before you could convince yourself that that could be a possibility, you read that Nicolas Cage has been cast in the lead role, and all hope of them taking this movie and this terrible tragedy seriously are thrown right out the window.

Jinn · 11-03-2005, 10:44 AM

I dont see how this movie could be NOT tasteful. Documentaries of disasters and tragedies occur all the time, and they're not considered distasteful. They're a great way to record history and convey the true pain and emotion that was palpable on those days. Surely this movie couldn't seperate much from being a documentary, or else it wouldn't be the 9/11 story. I say document away, Mr. Stone!

(On a side note, no one had a problem depicting the brutal beating, crusifiction, and death of Jesus Christ... and to some people, to lose him would be far worse than losing a few thousand sinners)

splck · 11-03-2005, 11:16 AM

When is the right time to make movies about tragic events? To some, it'll never be the right time, but to many, anytime is the right time.

People will flock to the movie, you'll see.

Willravel · 11-03-2005, 11:24 AM

If he can give an accurate retelling that doesn't have blatent homosexual ondertones (see FJK, Alexander), he might have a shot in my mind. BTW, for those who know my beliefs about 9/11, I don't care which side of the story he tells.

maximusveritas · 11-03-2005, 11:36 AM

It sounds like Stone is just going to do a straighforward story about the heroes of 9-11. People are going to be distrustful of him because of JFK, but that was just one movie. I don't think he's a conspiracy nut or anything.
Nevertheless, I think this movie will be doomed to criticism because of the subject matter and Stone's reputation.

trickyy · 11-03-2005, 01:00 PM

your discussion reminds me of a line from woody allen - comedy is tragedy plus time - although he was using the quote as a joke itself

but oliver stone kind of lost his edge, like the coen brothers.

there was a good National Geographic doc called Inside 9/11. it gave a lot of interesting information that i had not seen reported before. check it out if you get the chance.

Cimarron29414 · 11-03-2005, 01:44 PM

I have watched virtually every documentary made regarding this event. Everything from the architecture of the buildings to the brainwashing of men contributed to one of the most important events in modern history. I would say I have a very strong understanding of "why" this event took place.

Having said that, I do not consider this event, the documentaries, or the impending films to be "entertainment." Making films (at this time) is nothing more than exploiting an "interesting" event into entertainment - and it is disgusting. The only thing that would allow major motion pictures on this subject to become acceptable is the passing of time.

If someone had attempted to make Schindler's List in 1948, they would have been run out of town on a rail.

Elphaba · 11-03-2005, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Because Berloff's script focuses entirely on police officers John McLoughlin and William J. Jimeno's experience on September 11, the film will not interpret the politics or meaning of September 11, the producers said.

Two police officers trapped in building rubble is only a mildly interesting story unless the backdrop includes the WTC attacks. I call that expoiting a national tragedy to jazz up an otherwise dull film. This is "entertainment", particularly when a box office money maker like Cage is in the film. I'll pass on this one.

Locobot · 11-03-2005, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maximusveritas

It sounds like Stone is just going to do a straighforward story about the heroes of 9-11. People are going to be distrustful of him because of JFK, but that was just one movie. I don't think he's a conspiracy nut or anything.
Nevertheless, I think this movie will be doomed to criticism because of the subject matter and Stone's reputation.

I'm going to be distrustful of Stone because of JFK, Nixon, U-Turn, Any Given Sunday, and his reverant documentary about Fidel Castro. I simply don't think the man's a good director aside from Platoon and the Rodney Dangerfield segments of Natural Born Killers.

maximusveritas · 11-03-2005, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Locobot

I'm going to be distrustful of Stone because of JFK, Nixon, U-Turn, Any Given Sunday, and his reverant documentary about Fidel Castro. I simply don't think the man's a good director aside from Platoon and the Rodney Dangerfield segments of Natural Born Killers.

Yeah, he's really slipped as a director and I admit I haven't seen any of his films since Natural Born Killers, but I think he's made some good films other than Platoon: Salvador, Wall Street, Talk Radio, Born on the Fourth of July.

JumpinJesus · 11-04-2005, 08:20 PM

If Hollywood has their typical way, Nicholas Cage will race up the stairs and save everyone above the 70th floor. He will race down the steps and dive out the door with a damsel-in-distress just nanoseconds before the explosion engulfs the building behind them as he dives turning in midair with both guns blazing up at the terrorists in the jet. We will get the ultra high-speed film version that will show every detail in hyper slow motion from 15 different angles.

He will then stand up, brush off the dust, utter some trite, cliched, smarmy one-liner, and then take the woman in his arms.

/cynicism

I don't see a need to film a movie version of this event as there are hundreds upon hundreds of hours of documentary and news footage that is far more emotional and wrenching than anything Hollywood could conjure. I no longer trust Hollywood to make anything but focus-group tripe that trivializes our lives and reduces people to a single dimension.

cyrnel · 11-04-2005, 09:02 PM

If they were serious about treating the topic with dignity we wouldn't see Cage or other headliners.

Documentaries are fine. I'll pass on this exploitation. I fail to see any useful purpose beyond studio profit, and I sure as hell don't want my memories of what happened clouded by fantasy.

The thought of monday morning water-cooler chats over "the weekend movie" is a little nauseating.

stevie667 · 11-05-2005, 03:53 AM

Well this should cause some wonderful debates around release date...

Kostya · 11-05-2005, 07:55 PM

As much as Oliver Stone appears to have been partaking of many of the same drugs as the once great George Lucas, I fail to see how making a film about 9/11 is automatically wrong...

If it was done well it could be seen no more as exploitation than Schindler's List or Hotel Rwanda...

jujueye · 11-06-2005, 02:46 PM

It's all about the money. Period. This is really sad. I am so tired of commercialization of everything. I don't want to sound sarcastic, but will McDonalds have 9/11 logos on the drink cups? Oy. *make it stop!!!*

jorgelito · 11-06-2005, 05:35 PM

What's left to tell? Haven't we been oversaturated with 9/11 stuff? What else is left? I also agree with JinnKai (who's going to jail soon) what's the big deal? HOw could it not be tasteful? I say, leave it to the documentaries. Why the need to walk on eggshells? What happened to free speech?

Other than that, I don't care about this movie at all. I no longer care - let's move on.

Ace_O_Spades · 11-07-2005, 12:43 AM

I'm gonna take an opposite stance and say that I'd watch this movie.

This movie could be good, I'll probably go see it. Good end of the summer action movie... cept we already know the ending.

11-03-2005, 10:19 AM	#2 (permalink)
Eweser Psycho Location: O-K-L-A-H-O-M-A	Personally, I don't think I will see these movies. I don't live anywhere near NYC and only saw footage on tv and I don't think I can handle those emotions again. __________________ "Whoever wrote this episode should die!"

11-03-2005, 10:23 AM	#3 (permalink)
Bill O'Rights will always be an Alyson Hanniganite Location: In the dust of the archives	I'm gonna have to take a pass on it. It's way too soon. I cannot imagine how they could undertake such a project, and have it come out tastefully done. __________________ "I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do because I notice it always coincides with their own desires." - Susan B. Anthony "Hedonism with rules isn't hedonism at all, it's the Republican party." - JumpinJesus It is indisputable that true beauty lies within...but a nice rack sure doesn't hurt.

11-03-2005, 10:27 AM	#4 (permalink)
5757 Insane Location: Vegas!!	I would be interested in watching them. I don't think it's too soon. I agree though that they may not be done in a very tasteful way, but I'd still watch. __________________ Hey! Wait! I've got a new complaint, Forever in debt to ((your)) priceless advice. - Nirvana

11-03-2005, 10:37 AM	#5 (permalink)
Daoust "I'm sorry. What was the question?" Location: Paradise Regained	Interesting how that people think that watching tragedy (especially if it's based on a real life event) is okay, so long as it is distanced by a few years from the real thing. Making a movie about the sinking of the Titanic is okay, because most of the survivors are dead now. I wonder how long a director should wait after a huge tradegy happens before they should make a movie about it? When is it acceptable? I'm sure it depends on whom the tragedy occurs. It seems fitting to me that sensationalist America couldn't wait 5 years before making a movie about something as sensational as the bombing of the towers. It's just too good of material, isn't it? It's perfect movie making stuff. And you know, I think they could make a good movie out of it. They could treat it seriously, much in the same way that Moore did with the Columbine shootings. But even before you could convince yourself that that could be a possibility, you read that Nicolas Cage has been cast in the lead role, and all hope of them taking this movie and this terrible tragedy seriously are thrown right out the window. __________________ I have faith in a few things - divinity and grace But even when I'm on my knees I know the devil preys

11-03-2005, 10:44 AM	#6 (permalink)
Jinn Lover - Protector - Teacher Location: Seattle, WA	I dont see how this movie could be NOT tasteful. Documentaries of disasters and tragedies occur all the time, and they're not considered distasteful. They're a great way to record history and convey the true pain and emotion that was palpable on those days. Surely this movie couldn't seperate much from being a documentary, or else it wouldn't be the 9/11 story. I say document away, Mr. Stone! (On a side note, no one had a problem depicting the brutal beating, crusifiction, and death of Jesus Christ... and to some people, to lose him would be far worse than losing a few thousand sinners) __________________ "I'm typing on a computer of science, which is being sent by science wires to a little science server where you can access it. I'm not typing on a computer of philosophy or religion or whatever other thing you think can be used to understand the universe because they're a poor substitute in the role of understanding the universe which exists independent from ourselves." - Willravel

11-03-2005, 11:16 AM	#7 (permalink)
splck it's jam Location: Lowerainland BC	When is the right time to make movies about tragic events? To some, it'll never be the right time, but to many, anytime is the right time. People will flock to the movie, you'll see. __________________ nice line eh?

11-03-2005, 11:24 AM	#8 (permalink)
Willravel ... a sort of licensed troubleshooter.	If he can give an accurate retelling that doesn't have blatent homosexual ondertones (see FJK, Alexander), he might have a shot in my mind. BTW, for those who know my beliefs about 9/11, I don't care which side of the story he tells.

11-03-2005, 11:36 AM	#9 (permalink)
maximusveritas Winner	It sounds like Stone is just going to do a straighforward story about the heroes of 9-11. People are going to be distrustful of him because of JFK, but that was just one movie. I don't think he's a conspiracy nut or anything. Nevertheless, I think this movie will be doomed to criticism because of the subject matter and Stone's reputation.

11-03-2005, 01:00 PM	#10 (permalink)
trickyy ►	your discussion reminds me of a line from woody allen - comedy is tragedy plus time - although he was using the quote as a joke itself but oliver stone kind of lost his edge, like the coen brothers. there was a good National Geographic doc called Inside 9/11. it gave a lot of interesting information that i had not seen reported before. check it out if you get the chance.

11-03-2005, 01:44 PM	#11 (permalink)
Cimarron29414 Still Free Location: comfortably perched at the top of the bell curve!	I have watched virtually every documentary made regarding this event. Everything from the architecture of the buildings to the brainwashing of men contributed to one of the most important events in modern history. I would say I have a very strong understanding of "why" this event took place. Having said that, I do not consider this event, the documentaries, or the impending films to be "entertainment." Making films (at this time) is nothing more than exploiting an "interesting" event into entertainment - and it is disgusting. The only thing that would allow major motion pictures on this subject to become acceptable is the passing of time. If someone had attempted to make Schindler's List in 1948, they would have been run out of town on a rail. __________________ Gives a man a halo, does mead. "Here lies The_Jazz: Killed by an ambitious, sparkly, pink butterfly."

11-04-2005, 08:20 PM	#15 (permalink)
JumpinJesus Junkie Location: Chicago	If Hollywood has their typical way, Nicholas Cage will race up the stairs and save everyone above the 70th floor. He will race down the steps and dive out the door with a damsel-in-distress just nanoseconds before the explosion engulfs the building behind them as he dives turning in midair with both guns blazing up at the terrorists in the jet. We will get the ultra high-speed film version that will show every detail in hyper slow motion from 15 different angles. He will then stand up, brush off the dust, utter some trite, cliched, smarmy one-liner, and then take the woman in his arms. /cynicism I don't see a need to film a movie version of this event as there are hundreds upon hundreds of hours of documentary and news footage that is far more emotional and wrenching than anything Hollywood could conjure. I no longer trust Hollywood to make anything but focus-group tripe that trivializes our lives and reduces people to a single dimension. __________________ "I can normally tell how intelligent a man is by how stupid he thinks I am" - Cormac McCarthy, All The Pretty Horses

11-04-2005, 09:02 PM	#16 (permalink)
cyrnel Adequate Location: In my angry-dome.	If they were serious about treating the topic with dignity we wouldn't see Cage or other headliners. Documentaries are fine. I'll pass on this exploitation. I fail to see any useful purpose beyond studio profit, and I sure as hell don't want my memories of what happened clouded by fantasy. The thought of monday morning water-cooler chats over "the weekend movie" is a little nauseating. __________________ There are a vast number of people who are uninformed and heavily propagandized, but fundamentally decent. The propaganda that inundates them is effective when unchallenged, but much of it goes only skin deep. If they can be brought to raise questions and apply their decent instincts and basic intelligence, many people quickly escape the confines of the doctrinal system and are willing to do something to help others who are really suffering and oppressed." -Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media, p. 195

11-05-2005, 03:53 AM	#17 (permalink)
stevie667 Too Awesome for Aardvarks Location: Angloland	Well this should cause some wonderful debates around release date... __________________ Office hours have changed. Please call during office hours for more information.

11-05-2005, 07:55 PM	#18 (permalink)
Kostya Little known... Location: Brisbane, Australia	As much as Oliver Stone appears to have been partaking of many of the same drugs as the once great George Lucas, I fail to see how making a film about 9/11 is automatically wrong... If it was done well it could be seen no more as exploitation than Schindler's List or Hotel Rwanda...

11-06-2005, 02:46 PM	#19 (permalink)
jujueye alpaca lunch for the trip Location: in my computer	It's all about the money. Period. This is really sad. I am so tired of commercialization of everything. I don't want to sound sarcastic, but will McDonalds have 9/11 logos on the drink cups? Oy. make it stop!!!

11-06-2005, 05:35 PM	#20 (permalink)
jorgelito All important elusive independent swing voter... Location: People's Republic of KKKalifornia	What's left to tell? Haven't we been oversaturated with 9/11 stuff? What else is left? I also agree with JinnKai (who's going to jail soon) what's the big deal? HOw could it not be tasteful? I say, leave it to the documentaries. Why the need to walk on eggshells? What happened to free speech? Other than that, I don't care about this movie at all. I no longer care - let's move on.

11-07-2005, 12:43 AM	#21 (permalink)
Ace_O_Spades The Death Card Location: EH!?!?	I'm gonna take an opposite stance and say that I'd watch this movie. This movie could be good, I'll probably go see it. Good end of the summer action movie... cept we already know the ending. __________________ Feh.