April 4, 2006

Dreams and Myths: Hollywood and 9/11

By Rick Moran
Coming soon to a theater near you — whether you're ready or not — will be the first mass market attempt by Hollywood to insert the tragedy of 9/11 into the American narrative. United 93, a Universal Studios project set to open April 28, tells the story of the ill—fated airliner whose passengers heroically attacked the cockpit and foiled the hijackers' plans to fly the plane into the White House. The question isn't whether or not the film should have been made, but rather whether or not the people of the United States are ready for Hollywood to do what Hollywood does best: breathe life into myth and employ marketing skills honed over a century of huckstering to fold 9/11 permanently into the fabric of American culture. The industry is watching very closely how U—93 does at the box office. Set to open later this summer is Paramount's Oliver Stone blockbuster World Trade Center, which, unlike the Universal production, will feature big name actors and a very big...(Read Full Article)