Is the movie "One World Trade Center" about real people?
Yes!
On September 11, 2001, the World Trade Center Twin Towers in New York, USA, suffered an unprecedented terrorist attack. Two United Airlines flights crashed into two towering buildings. Explosions and collapses followed one after another, and all firefighters and police officers in New York City participated in this earth-shattering rescue. What is unexpected is that the people involved in rescue often become the rescued in the face of such serious and dangerous disasters.
Many rescue team members were trapped in the rubble that crashed down. Among them are two police officers from the New York City Port Authority, John McLaughlin (Nicolas Cage) and William Jimeno (Michael Pena). The two people in danger attracted a lot of attention, especially their families, and of course other rescuers who were in safe situations. On the one hand, family members and rescue workers are working together to actively seek effective rescue plans and rescue the two police officers as soon as possible; on the other hand, the two people trapped in the ruins are in a desperate situation where the oxygen is gradually thinning, and they are trying their best to save the two police officers. With his perseverance and unremitting efforts, he is looking for a glimmer of hope that he may still be alive.
However, all the fear, hesitation, sadness, and despair are slowly coming from all directions, even from hell. Rescue and self-rescue were carried out simultaneously during this thrilling and rather long 24 hours. Two vigorous lives in the ruins are suffering...
The film stars: the increasingly crazy old Cage
Presumably many Chinese viewers are in the same mood at the end of the last century. Those who know this guy with a dignified face and penetrating eyes in the strong Hollywood action style, such as "The Island", "Air Prison", "Face/Off" and other powerful hits, "8mm", "Gone in 60 Seconds" One after another. However, as we entered the new century, Cage's traditional action style gradually lost its style and lost its market.
Therefore, he also began to experiment more with other types of dramas that are slightly milder and have a warm tone. "Match Man", "Lord of War" and "Weatherman" gave Nicolas Cage more time to calm down and experience the enjoyment of pure performance. In the busy year of 2006, he made many "bold" and brand-new attempts: passionately singing in the cartoon "Don't Mess with the Ants"; "World Trade Center" made him have a passionate relationship with the personality master Oliver Stone. The collision of "The Infidel" gave him another double test of horror and horror after his two "Vampire Journeys".
However, Nicolas Cage, who is getting crazier as he gets older, seems to have no intention of getting tired after two years of continuous work. The following year and the year after, *** received eight films (so far announced). These include the sequel to "National Treasure" which tasted sweetness, and the eye-catching "Ghost Rider", etc. Obviously, this "old" action star who has entered his 40s has increasingly exuded endless charm and full motivation under the nourishment of love and family.
Back to this film, in order to more vividly portray the role of a rescue policeman who struggles to survive in a disaster, Cage deliberately took the time to grow a long beard early on, and suffered all the hardships with his partner Pena. In the studio built by the crew in Los Angeles, countless cement and bricks were dumped around the two people. The scene was dusty, and the two people who were trapped 20 feet away were looking gray every day. Cage's preliminary preparation work, in addition to striving to be thin and vicissitudes of life in terms of image, also included interviewing the parties involved and accumulating information with director Oliver Stone. Cage, who is used to being the most powerful actor on the screen, once again explores heroic colors in ordinary roles this time. There is a little less novelty, but fortunately there is a lot of sincerity to supplement it.
Behind the scenes of the film: Oliver Stone does not care about politics
Personalized director Oliver Stone has already said that "World Trade Center" is "not about politics", but reflects the bigger picture. Humanity theme. Think of the once sensational "Fahrenheit 9/11" directed by Mike Moore, which conquered Cannes across the ocean with its clear stance. It is said that in "Fahrenheit 9/11", the starring George W. Bush was more "vivid" than in any of his newsreel appearances. However, Stone, who is nearly middle-aged and has given movie fans many politically charged films such as "Platoon," "JFK," and "Born on the Fourth of July," suddenly becomes indifferent to politics.
And began to promote the American-style heroism that he had always disliked, which really surprised people inside and outside the industry. His choice seemed extremely cautious. Although "9·11" is a painful scar in the hearts of Americans, it would obviously be a waste of resources if it is only used as a background event to promote the main theme of heroism that other disaster films can also sublimate. Oliver Stone, who gave up digging deeply and being sharp, completely turned to a gentle and ordinary way to soothe the fragile hearts of more American people, using the "sensational" card.
First of all, in the early preparation stage of "World Trade Center", sufficient communication work was done with the family members. Through communication with the prototype of the story, the four leading actors fully grasped the details of the plot and the mentality of the characters. Also got their approval.
Similar to "Flight 93", which also does not talk about politics or make political analysis, "World Trade Center", which Stone adapted from real people, tells the story of two ordinary rescuers who were trapped in the ruins. There were simultaneous rescue activities inside and outside the World Trade Center. More than 2,600 people died after the attack on the World Trade Center, but these two people were lucky to survive. This is obviously a "full exploration of American heroism" and at the same time it is based on the destiny of a small person. Movie.
In addition, Stone also maintained the greatest respect for the historical facts of 9·11. In order to maintain the accuracy of the film, he adopted the most unorthodox shooting method, that is, strictly following the events as they occurred. Not only that, during the first month or so of filming in Los Angeles, he also invited some 9/11 survivors and witnesses to come to the scene to supervise, making sure that every detail was closely aligned with the facts. "Alexander the Great" has been widely criticized for its handling of some historical facts. It is understandable that Stone, who is becoming more and more textual this time, is so cautious.
Regarding the issue of whether the twin collapse plot, which is of great concern to the public, will be repeated, Stone decided to show this devastating scene through the TV news footage in the film after repeated weighing. Similarly, many films with similar themes are equally cautious in handling this scene. "Fahrenheit 9/11" uses a black screen accompanied by explosions, noises, and sounds of pain to indirectly convey the tragedy of the collapse of the Youzi Tower. Obviously, the treatment of "World Trade Center" is purely conservative.
All signs indicate that although the "old" Oliver Stone was really deeply moved by Andrea Berloff's script, he also discarded many of his own distinctive characteristics. Regardless of whether it is "returning to the right path" or not apolitical, such a topical film still deserves the attention of everyone in the world, including Americans.