united 93 (2006) - hyper-realistic essential viewing - (8/10) paul greengrass, even above his handheld intensity and dramatized honesty, is focused on various systems and their interconnections. united 93 is the only film of his that uses his documentary heavy resume as a physical springboard. united 93 is an inspired tale of human emotion and unity. casting is entirely based on semi-professional actors who shows they are on par with any mainstream hollywood actors. i've held back on watching this film because of the thought that i will not watch a sensationalized movie , but this film proves that it's one of those films, where knowing the ending and the events depicted opens your eyes, not skew your viewpoint. there are no attempts to demonize. there are no attempts to play for pretense. you're just dropped in this hellish situation and expected to deal with it. it just feels real. the build-up constantly had me on edge. the tension is raw. and then there's the heartbreak of people phoning home and the desperation of the attack on the cockpit. greengrass has fashioned a fantastic film here. he's made a film that is visceral and heartbreaking and that makes no concessions to the audience. it's one of the greatest films of the last few years. the reason it's an 8 but not a 9 is because greengrass did not use his cinematic technique to explore any ideologies , nor did he break any ground. united 93 is a superbly made film that is unlike any hollywood flick, that deeply rattles you. this is, in my opinion, an essential viewing for everyone.