Friday, August 04, 2006
Un-Hollywood Premiere for WTC film
By Justin Rocket Silverman amNewYork Staff Writer
Posted August 4 2006
For a movie premiere, plastic smiles were in uncommonly short supply at the screening of Oliver Stone's "World Trade Center," a film that has won critical acclaim for its starkly honest portrayal of the day that changed everything."This kind of heroism has to be told, people have to know what these men did," said John McLoughlin, the Port Authority cop played by Nicholas Cage, before the premiere at the Ziegfeld Theater."You can't just say it's not time for a film yet and let that story disappear."Cage and co-star Michael Peña were joined Thursday night by 50 police officers, firefighters and other rescue personnel who were on 9/11's front lines and were hired by Stone to work as consultants to increase the film's accuracy."This film doesn't change the facts," said Terry Quinn, a firefighter who responded on 9/11. "People need to see what really happened that day."Unlike 'JFK' or 'Nixon,' this film is not a political thriller of conspiracy theories. Unlike 'Natural Born Killers,' it is not a stark portrayal of violence--Stone does not even show the planes hitting the Twin Towers.Instead, 'World Trade Center' is a rescue story told through the eyes of people who lived it. McLoughlin and another cop, Will Jimeno, played by Peña, spend much of the movie trapped beneath the rubble.The lack of conspiracy theories in Stone's film was evidenced Thursday night by the presence of GOP leaders--including Gov. George Pataki--who have often been quick to criticize the director."I had concerns when I heard that Oliver Stone was directing the movie," said Rep. Peter King (R-Long Island) chairman of the House homeland security committee. "But he has captured the spirit of that day and I commend him for it."Paramount Pictures has also been trying to demonstrate the non-political nature of the film with advance screenings for conservative groups in D.C.The fact that Stone did not write 'World Trade Center' himself has also been widely publicized.In another rarity among New York movie premiers, Thursday's screening at the Ziegfeld Theater was not followed by a gala reception of cocktails and gift bags. The mood just didn¹t call for it.
Posted August 4 2006
For a movie premiere, plastic smiles were in uncommonly short supply at the screening of Oliver Stone's "World Trade Center," a film that has won critical acclaim for its starkly honest portrayal of the day that changed everything."This kind of heroism has to be told, people have to know what these men did," said John McLoughlin, the Port Authority cop played by Nicholas Cage, before the premiere at the Ziegfeld Theater."You can't just say it's not time for a film yet and let that story disappear."Cage and co-star Michael Peña were joined Thursday night by 50 police officers, firefighters and other rescue personnel who were on 9/11's front lines and were hired by Stone to work as consultants to increase the film's accuracy."This film doesn't change the facts," said Terry Quinn, a firefighter who responded on 9/11. "People need to see what really happened that day."Unlike 'JFK' or 'Nixon,' this film is not a political thriller of conspiracy theories. Unlike 'Natural Born Killers,' it is not a stark portrayal of violence--Stone does not even show the planes hitting the Twin Towers.Instead, 'World Trade Center' is a rescue story told through the eyes of people who lived it. McLoughlin and another cop, Will Jimeno, played by Peña, spend much of the movie trapped beneath the rubble.The lack of conspiracy theories in Stone's film was evidenced Thursday night by the presence of GOP leaders--including Gov. George Pataki--who have often been quick to criticize the director."I had concerns when I heard that Oliver Stone was directing the movie," said Rep. Peter King (R-Long Island) chairman of the House homeland security committee. "But he has captured the spirit of that day and I commend him for it."Paramount Pictures has also been trying to demonstrate the non-political nature of the film with advance screenings for conservative groups in D.C.The fact that Stone did not write 'World Trade Center' himself has also been widely publicized.In another rarity among New York movie premiers, Thursday's screening at the Ziegfeld Theater was not followed by a gala reception of cocktails and gift bags. The mood just didn¹t call for it.
"World Trade Center' Leaves Real Heroes Awestruck
(CBS) NEW YORK Retired Port Authority Police Lt. John McLoughlin stood next to Oscar-winning actor Nicolas Cage and talked about him like an old friend."Nic's a great guy," McLoughlin said. "Getting to know him has been a really good thing."The men bonded over the past several months, as Cage worked on Oliver Stone's new film, "World Trade Center." The movie had its world premiere Thursday at the historic Ziegfeld Theatre in Midtown.The movie tells the story of McLoughlin and Will Jimeno, also a Port Authority cop. The men were trapped in the rubble when the Twin Towers fell on 9/11, and were the last to be rescued alive at Ground Zero."We tried as hard as we could to make everything right," said Stone, sweating on the red carpet on a hot and humid night.Stone's critical comments about the U.S. after the 9/11 terror attacks prompted many to wonder if he was the right man to direct such a sensitive story.Scott Strauss, a retired NYPD officer who was the first to reach McLoughlin in the rubble, said he worried, too."I am so glad that I was proved wrong about my original perceptions," Strauss said. "He's a fantastic director. It was important for him to make this movie right as it was for us to have it right."Strauss was one of many real-life 9/11 heroes who consulted with Stone during the making of the film. Many of them attended the premiere Thursday, bringing family and friends with them to walk the red carpet."I thought the movie was incredibly done," said McLoughlin. "It was accurate. They got the feel what was going on with us that day."Jimeno also had high praise for the film, which he's already seen six times."Our main goal as survivors was to tell the story of our teammates, the rescuers who came in, and the strength of our wives," Jimeno said.Jimeno's wife, Allison ,attended the premiere, along with Maggie Gyllenhaal, the actress who portrays her."I was more interested in showing the role all the families played that day, rather than where I went and what I did," Allison Jimeno said. "I think everyone involved with this film did an incredible job."
Thursday, August 03, 2006
'WTC" debut a no-glitz zone
Survivors to attend
BY PAUL D. COLFORDDAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
"World Trade Center" will have its red-carpet premiere tonight at the Ziegfeld Theater, but celebration will be kept to a minimum.
In one striking departure, there will be no gala reception afterward.
That's because the audience will include not just the film's stars and handlers, but also survivors of the terror attacks and others shattered by the loss of loved ones.
"It seemed inappropriate to do something festive," said Michael Shamberg, one of the film's producers.
"While the film celebrates the best in people, the night will be low-key," he added.
"I'll have to steel myself before going," said Charles Wolf, whose wife, Katherine, worked in the WTC's north tower.
"This is a movie, and I know how it turns out," he added. "But I'm going to go steeled, to protect myself from an emotional crush."
Gov. Pataki, former Mayor Rudy Giuliani and NYPD Commissioner Raymond Kelly are also due to attend, along with those Shamberg called "our most honored guests" - the 50 cops, firefighters and other responders who worked on the film.
"World Trade Center," directed by Oliver Stone, recounts the ordeal of Port Authority cops John McLoughlin and Will Jimeno. They were buried under rubble until rescuers risked their own lives to free them.
In marketing the hard-hitting film, which opens nationwide next Wednesday, Paramount has been using many of those portrayed on screen - and is heavily targeting young viewers.
At a recent screening, Shamberg recalled, one young man said, "This [9/11] is like our Kennedy assassination."
A half-hour show with Stone, co-stars Nicolas Cage and Michael Pena, as well as Jimeno, has been running on MTV.
And a TV commercial for the film features "Fix You," a popular tune by the rock band Coldplay that's not on the soundtrack.
The film's official Web site, wtcmovie.com, and Paramount's promotional page on myspace.com feature interviews with 18 people close to what happened.
They include the wives of the two main characters, Donna McLoughlin and Allison Jimeno, and uniformed responders to the WTC attacks.
Michael Fleming, veteran Hollywood watcher with Daily Variety, said he couldn't predict how "World Trade Center" will do at the box office.
"The big challenge for Paramount is to get people to want to replay such a horrible day," he said.
BY PAUL D. COLFORDDAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
"World Trade Center" will have its red-carpet premiere tonight at the Ziegfeld Theater, but celebration will be kept to a minimum.
In one striking departure, there will be no gala reception afterward.
That's because the audience will include not just the film's stars and handlers, but also survivors of the terror attacks and others shattered by the loss of loved ones.
"It seemed inappropriate to do something festive," said Michael Shamberg, one of the film's producers.
"While the film celebrates the best in people, the night will be low-key," he added.
"I'll have to steel myself before going," said Charles Wolf, whose wife, Katherine, worked in the WTC's north tower.
"This is a movie, and I know how it turns out," he added. "But I'm going to go steeled, to protect myself from an emotional crush."
Gov. Pataki, former Mayor Rudy Giuliani and NYPD Commissioner Raymond Kelly are also due to attend, along with those Shamberg called "our most honored guests" - the 50 cops, firefighters and other responders who worked on the film.
"World Trade Center," directed by Oliver Stone, recounts the ordeal of Port Authority cops John McLoughlin and Will Jimeno. They were buried under rubble until rescuers risked their own lives to free them.
In marketing the hard-hitting film, which opens nationwide next Wednesday, Paramount has been using many of those portrayed on screen - and is heavily targeting young viewers.
At a recent screening, Shamberg recalled, one young man said, "This [9/11] is like our Kennedy assassination."
A half-hour show with Stone, co-stars Nicolas Cage and Michael Pena, as well as Jimeno, has been running on MTV.
And a TV commercial for the film features "Fix You," a popular tune by the rock band Coldplay that's not on the soundtrack.
The film's official Web site, wtcmovie.com, and Paramount's promotional page on myspace.com feature interviews with 18 people close to what happened.
They include the wives of the two main characters, Donna McLoughlin and Allison Jimeno, and uniformed responders to the WTC attacks.
Michael Fleming, veteran Hollywood watcher with Daily Variety, said he couldn't predict how "World Trade Center" will do at the box office.
"The big challenge for Paramount is to get people to want to replay such a horrible day," he said.
