United 93 [8/10]

I won't lie, I had almost no desire to see this film, and did so only out of some odd sense of obligation. I felt obligated not because of some nascent kernel of patriotism buried deep within my black anti-American heart, but rather I wanted to see if all the glowing reviews I'd been reading were accurate or just more bullshit patriotism. In short, I fully expected to dislike it. However, much to my surprise, I didn't. In fact, I have to say it was probably best it could have been for what it was: the first big 9/11 drama. I think the fact that the producers knew it would come under so much scrutiny might have actually helped. It pretty much stuck as close to the facts as possible (even having some of the real people play themselves), and took care not to drift into the realm of the overly melodramatic flag-waving bullshit as I'd expected. I think the biggest surprise for me was the, if not sympathetic, then at least humanising, portrayal of the hijackers. A close to perfect film - if it wasn't for all the screen time that Cal hat/flared nostrils guy had, I would have given it at least a 9.