I'm not sure what's more surprising...the fact that a film based on events from 9/11 could be ultimately so uplifting, or that said-film is directed by such an in-your-face director as Oliver Stone. I know a lot of folks who stayed away from "World Trade Center" either because of its subject matter, or Stone's patented sensationalism. Neither reason is warranted, because like this year's more visceral (and still better) "United 93," this film eschews the hows and whys of 9/11 to focus on the selfless individual heroism present that day. But unlike "United 93," "WTC" is almost totally character-driven, about how those horrific events changed the lives of a few brave men and their families. The result is a long but poignant film that's unlike any Oliver Stone movie you've ever seen.

John McLoughlin (Nicholas Cage) & Will Jimeno (Michael Pena) are two Port Authority police officers called to the World Trade Center shortly after the first tower is struck by a plane. Of course, like everyone else in New York, they are totally unprepared for the devastation they are about to face. On route, tower two is attacked, though they don't know it yet. McLoughlin, Jimeno & a team of others enter the buildings to help evacuate survivors. Just as they about to go up, the first tower collapses. Due to McLoughlin's quick thinking, they duck into an elevator shaft. They survive, but are badly injured and trapped 20 feet under rubble. This is roughly 20 minutes into the picture. The remainder of the film cuts back and forth among three concurring stories: McLoughlin & Jimeno bonding in an effort to stay awake and alert in order to survive, their wives' (Maria Bello & Maggie Gyllenhaal) dealing with not knowing whether they are dead or alive, and the search & rescue attempt led by dedicated Marine Sargent Karnes (Michael Shannon). Wisely, the horrible attack is only implied, never shown (who the hell wants to see THAT again?), and the screenplay makes the smart decision to avoid turning this into a disaster film . From the opening scene, the film focuses on a few characters (and, according to all involved in the production, pretty true to their real-life counterparts). Despite the fact the attacks happen almost immediately, this deliberately paced movie works because it isn't about the disaster itself, but about these people before, during and after. We see through flashbacks that McLoughlin regrets taking his wife for granted because of his two-decade dedication to his job, and laments over things he has yet to accomplish (ordinary things, like finishing house project, but important to him all the same). We also get to know the younger, more optimistic Jimeno & his wife, and their amusing quandary of what to name their unborn daughter. These flashbacks, seemingly mundane, actually carry a lot of emotional weight since we know these people's world is about to be changed in ways we can't imagine. From a story standpoint, a bit of the drama is diminished because we more-or-less know the outcome, but it's a credit to Stone and screenwriter Andrea Berloff that we still want to see it through to its conclusion, and we're rewarded with many satisfying emotional peaks that'll surely have some reaching for the tissue box. As for Stone, he approaches this material with a reserved grace & style that will confound anyone familiar with his work; it's a far cry from the over-the-top pictures he's normally associated with. On the downside, "World Trade Center" is too long by at least a half-hour; the plodding middle third contains several scenes which could have been trimmed up a bit without hurting the narrative.

The film is presented in enhanced widescreen, and the overall image is outstanding, especially apparent during the scenes in which the two lead characters are trapped. Because the black tones are so accurate, we can see what's going on, but still feel like we are trapped in the dark with these guys. The audio is rendered in 5.1 & 2.0 Dolby Digital Surround, and it sounds great, with tremendously creative balance, again most notable during the same underground scenes.

Disc 1, which contains the film itself, features two commentaries. The first one, by Stone, is informative and insightful, though he's never been the most entertaining director to listen to. The second one, featuring the real-life Will Jimeno and rescuers Scott Strauss, John Busching & Paddy McGee, is far more interesting, mainly because they are commenting on scenes depicting what they actually went through only five years ago. Disc 2 has a bunch of other material, some interesting, some not. In the not category are the numerous deleted/extended scenes with optional commentary by Stone; for the most part, it's easy to understand why they were shortened or excised from an already-long film. "The Making of 'World Trade Center' is a detailed three-part documentary featuring interviews with the crew, the cast and several of their real-life counterparts. Of all the features, the documentary, "Common Sacrifice," is the most hard-hitting, as it features Jimeno & McLoughlin discussing (sometimes emotionally) what went on that day from their perspective. "Oliver Stone's New York" is a pretty good featurette about Stone and his eventful life. There's also a Q&A with Stone that was done in England before a live audience in which he discusses his feelings about the project (and it's probably the least pretentious and most humble I've ever seen him). Some trailers for this and other movies round out a pretty damned good batch of extras.

As I write this, I've tried to convince my wife (who still refuses to watch anything related to 9/11) that "World Trade Center," despite its sobering subject matter, is ultimately an uplifting & life-affirming story of courage during the worst day in American history. The film isn't as masterfully hard-hitting as the brilliant "United 93," but Oliver Stone, of all people, has given us a touching & poignant companion piece that is cut from a different cloth, but still chooses to show how great people can be. Highly recommended. Similar Films: "United 93"