According to Cinematical, New York isn’t being that cooperative with Oliver Stone over his 9/11 movie…
…there will be nearly unprecedented restrictions on what Stone can show, and what sort of visual effects he can create in the area that was affected by the attacks. For example, there will be establishing shots, but none of the impact of the planes on the Twin Towers. Instead, reactions to the events will be shown. Additionally, the city will not allow Stone to “dress the streets with dirt and debris and ash and people’s belongings and falling bodies.”
Well the last part you can understand, imagine the impact on passers by. However are they being too restrictive considering that the movie is about 9/11, or is it the right thing to do? It’s an interesting question that they raise, and one of which I can see both sides.
After the early discussions of casting and plot I’m not so sure that unrestricted filming would be such a positive thing for this new movie, you can imagine some of the directions the movie will take, but further comment from Cindy Adams at the New York Post caught Cinematicals eye(s)…
…the sometimes unpredictable Stone has thus far handled the whole situation with class and delicacy. He waited to begin pre-production until the anniversary had passed, and is spending (as one would expect) a great deal of time with the families of victims, both doing research and reassuring them about his intentions.
That doesn’t really surprise me, because Stone can be overpowering and opinionated in his movies and in interviews does not mean he lacks emotion. I think he is showing a lot of care in this movie, and not just because of the turn his career could take if he gets it wrong, but because it is a subject that requires a lot of sensitivity.
What do you think though? Too much restriction? Not enough? Is this project one you’d like to see or rather avoid?
Look. Im from Manhattan. I was there on September 11th. I understand respect, but to inhibit one’s artistic creation seems overprotective of the people affected by the disaster. New York has seen it all, good and bad, and we all knew movies would be made. Enough respect has been paid by waiting five years. Let these filmmakers and directors create their films – these restrictions seem a little overboard. The people of NY and the United States are smart enough to know trash from historic recreation, opinionated or otherwise. The bigger issue to me, seems to be how government is pressuring filmmakers and censoring what is or isnt to be made. In the past 15 years, censorship has become a growing problem. Why is government dictating what we watch on film – unless they have a hand in it all, concerned about what we absorb into our minds, and having another hand in what hollywood is “allowed” to put out. We’re losing civil liberties, and this disaster is being used to tighten the restraints. Shame on everyone for allowing this to happen.
I frankly think it is to soon to make a movie about 9/11. Let things heal. I would say in 10 or 12 years after the fact. But not now.
Donna A.
Let the man make his movie. We all know what happened. Let his work stand or fall on it’s own. You knew going into Passion of the Christ that you were gonna see something grim……. i would assume you would expect something grim in an Oliver Stone movie about 9/11. I can understand the NY’s reservation about him dressing the streets though…. that’s what Vancouver is for these days anyhow.
Edward, you took the words right out of my mouth!
This is crazy!! Why must Stone water down the events? We’ve seen what happened a million times on television. This movie will not change our view about that terrible day. Did he change our view about JFK or THE DOORS. No! People will flock to this movie in the millions.
best,
-pbd
Given Stone’s fascination with historical revision, I can’t say that I blame New York!