World Trade Center [HD DVD] [2006] [US Import] - Region 1 HD DVD

Surprisingly, World Trade Center’s director is Oliver Stone, whose back catalogue is a mixture of provocative, controversial and challenging films. Here, he wisely pulls back, choosing to let the story unfold with little intervention. His direction is clever and underplayed, which serves to enhance the feeling of claustrophobia and emotion. It’s Stone’s best film in some time, even if it rarely feels like he’s the man behind the camera.

He’s helped by some fine turns from his cast, led by Nicolas Cage and Maria Bello, and while there’s an argument that the screenplay could use a little pruning, World Trade Center is nonetheless a strong piece of work. True, Paul Greengrass’ stunning, devastating United 93 is a superior film, but in this case, that’s beside the point. Because World Trade Center is still an important, well made film in its own right, and one that deserves, and perhaps needs, to be seen.--Simon Brew