United 93 (2006)
"United 93," written and directed by Paul Greengrass, was one of the first films to use the attacks as a plot device. The film was released in theaters nationwide and did relatively well at the box office considering its grim subject matter. "United 93" recounts the tragedy of Sept. 11 through the eyes of the passengers and crew of United Airlines Flight 93, which crashed near Shanksville, Pa. The flight's scheduled destination was San Francisco, Calif., but the plane was hijacked and was headed for Washington, D.C. United Flight 93 did not reach its intended target because the passengers and crew retaliated against the hijackers and were able to regain control of the plane. The film's advertising tagline was "The war on terror begins with 40 ordinary people," and the director maintains that theme throughout the movie. David Alan Basche, Olivia Thirlby and J.J. Johnson star in the film.
World Trade Center (2006)
Released in theatres during the same year as "United 93," the film "World Trade Center" is completely centered on the events of 9/11, but focuses on the struggle of two police officers who find themselves trapped under the remains of the fallen towers. Nicolas Cage and Michael Peña star as officers John McLoughlin and Will Jimeno. The film was directed by Oliver Stone and written by Andrea Berloff as well as the real John McLoughlin, Donna McLoughlin, William Jimeno and Allison Jimeno. Having McLoughlin and Jimeno on the writing team gave the film an authenticity not found in the fictional films surrounding 9/11.
The Hurt Locker (2008)
"The Hurt Locker," starring Jeremy Renner and Ralph Fiennes, created quite a buzz after its 2008 release. While the film's plot does not deal directly with the events of 9/11, it tackles the subject of the Iraq war, a direct result of the 9/11 attacks. "The Hurt Locker" tells the story of an elite Army bomb squad unit stationed in Iraq and their dangerous mission to save the city from total destruction while protecting themselves from harm. The film won six Oscars at the 2010 ceremony including Best Picture and Best Director for Kathryn Bigelow, making her the first woman to ever win an Oscar in that category.
Remember Me (2010)
"Remember Me" was not marketed as a film about Sept. 11 or terrorism, but the fall of the World Trade Center does factor into the plot of this love story starring Robert Pattinson and Emilie de Ravin. The film, directed by Allen Coulter and written by Will Fetters, gives subtle hints to the Sept. 11 subplot throughout the film. In the beginning of the film, the audience is told the film is set in New York City in 2001, but it would take a keen viewer to connect the dots, as the year isn't mentioned again until the very end of the film. "Remember Me" is not a happy romantic film. The story focuses on two lovers: Tyler (Pattinson) and Ally (de Ravin) who are beginning a relationship as they try to get over Ally's mother's murder and the divorce of Tyler's parents in the wake of his brother's suicide. "Remember Me" will air on TMC at 5:25 p.m. Saturday.
Dear John (2010)
"Dear John," based on the Nicholas Sparks novel of the same name, dealt with 9/11 as a secondary plot. The titular character John (Channing Tatum) is in the army and serving in Germany throughout a majority of the film. John is on active duty when the 9/11 attacks take place, spurring him and many of his fellow soldiers to re-enlist, despite his relationship back home in Charleston with his sweetheart Savannah (Amanda Seyfried) and his autistic father. John's re-enlistment shatters his life back on the East Coast, yet his service abroad all comes full circle.