'World Trade Center': A Movie of 9/12

Exclusive "World Trade Center" Video
Watch a film clip and other features about finding hope amid the 9/11 tragedy.

Oliver Stone's "World Trade Center" is a story of triumph over tragedy, hope over despair, and life over death. It is a courageous film, one that chooses to portray the horrific attacks sensitively, in understated terms, and to deal not just with the terror of the day but, even more importantly, the humanity of its heroes and the commitment of so many people to rescue survivors.

Sept. 11 happened, and it will be in our minds forever. But equally important is the story of Sept. 12, the day we got out of bed and responded to the horrific acts of violence with hearts of courage and compassion, as we sought to rescue any survivors and, ultimately, to find the remains of the dead. Oliver Stone's film is a tale of 9/12.

Because I was one of the pastors involved in ministering to the needs of rescue workers at Ground Zero in the days and months after this tragedy struck, I had the privilege of watching "World Trade Center" with 9/11 family members. Doing so, I was made acutely aware of the palpable pain that still resonates for many of us. But beyond that, Stone's movie also reminded me vividly of the goodwill and heroism I witnessed the next day.

Based on the true stories of John and Donna McLoughlin (played by Nicholas Cage and Maria Bello) and Will and Allison Jimeno (Michael Pena and Maggie Gyllenhaal), the film weaves together a compelling narrative about the way these two families' fates intersect. Upon hearing about an accident at the World Trade Center, Sergeant McLoughlin and his officers, including Will Jimeno, immediately head in that direction. En route, the second plane hits the South Tower and the officers are notified by radio, thereby eliminating any need to show those horrific, all-too-often-seen images of the attacks--just one example of the sensitivity Stone shows to those who suffered such great loss on that day.

Arriving at Ground Zero, these men--along with everyone else responding to the emergency--are overwhelmed by the gargantuan nature of this tragedy. McLoughlin and his crew enter the towers, only to be consumed soon thereafter by their collapse. Thus begins the central plot in this heroes' journey: the struggle for survival by two men, McLoughlin and Jimeno, who are severely wounded, trapped under heavy debris, and gasping to breathe through dust and ashes.

The story unfolds from this point as a dialogue between two men who, although hopeful they will survive, nevertheless acknowledge the grim reality of their likely deaths. Back and forth they encourage one another, discussing their wives, the love they have for their children, and Jimeno's dreams for his daughter yet to be born. In great agony, they recite together the Lord's Prayer, which becomes a lifeline for them.

As they struggle to keep alive, the story shifts to Connecticut, where a former marine staff sergeant, Dave Karnes (hauntingly played by Michael Shannon), decides--with the help of prayer and his pastor--to go to Ground Zero because he believes that God has called him to do search and rescue.

At his church, the camera lingers on the cross, a dramatic visual that becomes a defining moment in the film. Stone, however, avoids a simplistic portrayal of faith, instead showing religion in all its complexity--as something that can drive us both to heroic actions of love and to justify of the need for revenge. Toward the end of the film, with a gently placed, almost throw-away line, Karnes says under his breath with religious fervor, "It's gonna take a lot of good men to avenge this."

Before that, though, Karnes spots McLoughlin and Jimeno in the rubble, leading to a harrowing drama of rescue. The two officers are rushed to the emergency room, where McLoughlin utters the most compelling words in the whole movie: "Your love saved me."

Continued on page 2: There are rare, singular moments when communities become unfrozen... »