The Path to 9/11 (2006) (TV)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

David L. Cunningham

Writers:

John Miller (based in part on the book 'The Cell') &
Michael Stone (based in part on the book 'The Cell') ...

Release Date:

10 September 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | History

Plot:

A television mini-series on the events leading up to the US terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. |

Plot Keywords:

September 11 2001 | U.S. Vice President | Propaganda | White House | Politics

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 2 wins & 8 nominations

Cast

Harvey Keitel	...	John O'Neill
Michael Benyaer	...	Khalid Sheikh Mohammed / 'KSM'
Wendy Crewson	...	Valerie James
Shirley Douglas	...	Madeline Albright
Kevin Dunn	...	Samuel 'Sandy' Berger
Nabil Elouahabi	...	Ramzi Yousef
Mido Hamada	...	Massoud
Barclay Hope	...	John Miller
Frank John Hughes	...	Bill Miller
Dan Lauria	...	George Tenet
Amy Madigan	...	Patricia Carver
Art Malik	...	Colonel Raymond Malik
Michael Murphy	...	William Cohen
Stephen Root	...	Richard Clarke
William Sadler	...	Neil Herman

Runtime:

240 min | Finland:277 min (5 parts) | 263 min (extended version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Urdu | Dari | Arabic

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Germany:16 (TV rating)

Filming Locations:

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Marc Platt Productions

Trivia:

Shaun Toub, who portrayed Emad Salem (the FBI informant in the 1993 WTC Bombing) in this miniseries, also portrayed El Sayyid Nosair (one of the men responsible for the 1993 bombing) in Path to Paradise: The Untold Story of the World Trade Center Bombing. (1997) (TV).

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): One of the main characters, John O'Neal, speaking to Ambassador Bodine, says that the Hadhramaut region is "northwest Yemen". Actually, Hadhramaut is southeast Yemen.

Quotes:

"Kirk", a CIA operative: How do you win a "Law and Orderly" war?
John O'Neill: You don't.

Movie Connections:

References Path to Paradise: The Untold Story of the World Trade Center Bombing. (1997) (TV)

A rugged 'Path' airs--deserving more than political interest

The first night ended (20 minutes?) early, and appeared to have some ragged edges from the last minute appeasement edits. Still it gave an ominous chill--particularly for a small-screen viewing.

The Path's story was taught despite the long historical time-line and extensive list of players in the actual events. Political junkies--you could not tell any story this complicated without combining characters and events. The movie would have been over 10 years long.

The lead characters, O'Neill and Kirk (CIA operative) kept me emotionally charged; aptly venting my frustration in their roles. It made the audience's small rewards, catching the bomb maker and arresting the blind sheik, more authentic and satisfying. With terrorists portrayed so personally and tangibly, their ultimate deeds take on a new sense of betrayal--to their religion, to their world.

Some may not prefer the hand-held feel of the camera work. But I felt it gave an jarring look that suited the content; especially when juxtaposed with wide crowd scenes in Kenya, Afghanistan and other distant locales. The world music accents and Islamic prayer calls provided lyrical moments that let the tension ebb for an instant...only to return with throbbing drums and stick-and-move camera viewpoints of a world in disarray.

You may try to call this film a political mudfest, but you shouldn't deny the artistry. And why draw conclusions until you see the handling of Bush's administration? Ultimately I believe many will be rallied to see this for the controversy, but instead will leave with a sobered moment of remembrance and a vivid look at the gaping holes in our national defense.