ROTTEN TOMATOES: Three New Actors Sign On for Stone's WTC Drama

Three New Actors Sign On for Stone's WTC Drama

by Scott Weinberg | August 02, 2005

ComingSoon.net shares a press release from Paramount Pictures, and the subject is this: A few new roles have been cast on Oliver Stone's as-yet-untitled 9/11 drama, and the actors joining Nicolas Cage will be Maria Bello, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Michael Pena.

"Pena will portray Port Authority police officer William J. Jimeno, one of the last two men rescued from the collapsed buildings, and Gyllenhaal will portray his wife, Allison. Maria Bello will play Donna, wife of Sgt. John McLoughlin, the officer who was trapped in the rubble with Jimeno; Nicolas Cage will play McLoughlin."

Andrea Berloff wrote the screenplay, which focuses on "the story of two Port Authority policemen who are trapped in the rubble during the rescue efforts and also focuses on their rescuers and their families, who are attempting to find out what happened to the trapped men. The film is a portrayal of how the human spirit rose above the tragic events of that day."

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(1-13 of 13 posts) | Reply

oluaxs writes:
on Aug 02 2005 12:30 PM

[b]Oliver's Stoned[/b]
First of all, I admire and respect much of Oliver Stone's work. As of the past several years though, he's lost me. Being someone who lives in New York City (since birth) and who was in manhattan on September 11th, 2001, I can tell the rest of the world, WE DOON'T NEED TO BE REMINDED YET AGAIN OF THE TRAGEDIES OF 9/11!!!!!!!!!!!!! Enough!!!!!!! The American flag marketing extravaganza, the "We Will Not Forget" stickers.... I couldn't see my mom, who was in a nursing home a few blocks from the big hole in the ground where the Twin Towers used to be, for a week! It was a disgusting and vile act, we have relived a ZILLION heart-wrenching times (on EVERY CHANNEL On The PLANET!!), and now Stone wants to make even more money off of the tragedy. It's appalling to say the least. I mean, we've had to deal with a guy with a peppy voice on T.V. selling "commemorative" 9/11 coins (made of silver from the Twin Towers)?!? This is a sick indulgence of a washed-up, lazy filmaker. Give me one percent of the budget for this movie and I'll write an original screenplay about a hack filmaker who turns to other's tradgedies for profit, and in the end, karma whips his ass in a tragic climax where he can experience tragedy first hand. Except he'll be dead, so he won't be able to write about it (thank the lord!). Oliver Stone should be careful what he does... three thousand PISSED-OFF souls may not be very happy about being exploited while they're dead (even if it's SUPPOSEDLY about two Transit workers). Is he going to give the PROFITS to charity?

(Reply to this)

lovelykeira writes:
on Aug 02 2005 12:55 PM

Bello and Gyllenhaal are all right. But mostly I'm just happy that Pena is getting an all right sized roll after the great job he did in Crash.

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Averystorm writes:
on Aug 02 2005 02:54 PM

I can remember talking to some of my friends about the 'chance'(lol)of a 9/11 movie being made. Just never thought I'd see it for another 10-20 years. Do we really need this now? I respect Stone's work (Don't know what he was on when he made Alexander though), but this is pretty unneccesary.

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Flim Springfield writes:
on Aug 02 2005 03:31 PM

I agree that no one should profit off this movie. It's still way too early. Nicolas Cage is an well-known actor, putting him into the still all-too-real images of 9/11 will sicken a lot of people.

(Reply to this)

darklydoug writes:
on Aug 03 2005 07:00 AM

In reply to this comment (#824771)
I think we DO need to be reminded, and viewpoints need to be considered NOW before they're irrelevant. Whether you like Faherenheit 9/11 or not, would it have been wise to release it 10 years from now?

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GhostintheFlesh writes:
on Aug 03 2005 08:20 AM

I agree it is to soon, but I will be there in the front row to watch it. Whats wrong with me!

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Corterslaught writes:
on Aug 03 2005 09:09 AM

[b]What do you mean "No one should profit"?[/b]
It is genuinely moronic to believe that telling the story of two survivors of any significant event is wrong. Consider this comment: "Oliver Stone should be careful what he does... three thousand PISSED-OFF souls may not be very happy about being exploited while they're dead (even if it's SUPPOSEDLY about two Transit workers). Is he going to give the PROFITS to charity?" What brand of idiocy does it require to make those statements and ask that question? The networks profited from 9/11 since Day 1, and rightly so: they sold their point-of-view, which is anyone's right.

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jsmccune writes:
on Aug 03 2005 11:27 AM

Yes, but we actually know it was GWB greenlighting the CIA operatives to abet the "terrorists" in their attack of TWTC. It's Pearl Harbor all over again. I'm sure without I.N.T.E.L.L.I.G.E.N.C.E, it would be 9/11 times a hundred....

As for making money, it's America -- if you don't like it, don't see it. Yadda, yadda, yadda. Am I rambling again?

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dylan21484nj writes:
on Aug 03 2005 11:37 AM

[b]geez Stone, can't you wait a little longer?[/b]
there's something called "taste" that Stone seems to be lacking. "Titanic" and "Pearl Harbor were different those movies were made 60-100 years after the tragic events occured. come on, Stone. it's only been four years! you haven't even waited for The Freedom Tower to be built before trying to make a movie about 9/11? if people want a reminder of that horrible day, there's already tons of news footage and documentaries, and 9/11 is still fresh in many people's minds.

we know you're desperare for cash after Alexander crashed and burned. here's an idea - buy the rights to the story, then wait about 60 years. let people heal first.

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oluaxs writes:
on Aug 03 2005 05:41 PM

In reply to this comment (#824777)
[b]All for the Cash[/b]
It's a speacial kind of idiocy that fules my comments, Corterslaught. The kind inspired by the smell of a burning pile of god-knows-what that Manhattanites had to endure the stench of for months after the event. I greatly respect the right of an individual to sell their point of view, and by the way, the networks are all filled with talentless death-mongers too, but why doesn't he do a flick about the events that led up to the attacks? The report "Bin Laden determined to attack the twin towers" being ignored by the White House, etc. It's another tasteless, senseless exploitation of people's fears and anxieties.

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dopplergirl writes:
on Aug 05 2005 01:54 PM

[b]surprised[/b]
i am a little shocked that maggie gyllenhaal was even offered a role considering her recent comments reguarding 9/11 and the amercian public.

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Flim Springfield writes:
on Aug 06 2005 11:57 PM

She might have been offered the role BECAUSE of the comments.

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phranq writes:
on Aug 08 2005 02:14 PM

[b]The Last NAIL for this Stone COFFIN...[/b]
I completely agree with most of you, especially the first poster that:

1. It is simply TOO early. My video store STILL has those post-911 stickers on many of its 'action' movies that portray any plane crashes, etc...

2. I realize Americans / humans tend to have short memories and need to viserally be 'reminded' of history and trauma, however Stone is taking a HUGE bet (along with the studio) that our collective memory is as short as they assume.

3. Stone has made films that were considered by most as edgy, however this Un-PC 9/11 flick seriously reeks of desperation on Stone's part to reprieve himself. Desperation does not equal edgy... and this perception will NOT equal $$$ at the BO.

****
4. Stone's movies are NOTORIOUS for infusing his highly American LEFTIST views superimposed (or rewriting history, depending on your political persuasion) on his films. All that was fine in Salvador, JFK, etc., however it is NOT APPROPRIATE for a national trauma only 4 years old that took 3000 lives of ALL people: Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians, Arabs, English, Japanese, etc... AND has sparked wars and bombings that have involved other nations.

One easily could argue that such a time would be IDEAL for someone to flex their First Amendment Right. I can't argue his right to do so, however Stone should follow a previous posters suggestion... focus on the polital intrigue pre- or post- 9/11 that he feels was to blame (Bush's bad tie choices, Clinton's lack of international leadership, etc...).

Bottom Line: EVEN Michael Moore (LOVE or HATE him) had enough sense to black out the 9/11 event in his election year Farenheit 9/11. Making a movie with its chief sell being (presumptively) Cage running down a crumbling CGI World Trade Center will destroy Mr. Stone's integrity as much as Alexander destroyed his wallet.

$$$$$$$
One Last $$$$ tip for Mr. Stone or any savy screenwriter / producer. '9/11' began generations before the average American woke up the morning on 9/11. I would love to see a fair historic biop or epic of SALADIN's rise and conquer over the crusades, arguably the direct historical germination point of our troubles today. Forget R. Scotts' watered down, PC friendly Kingdom of Heaven. This gruesome true story coupled with Mr. Stone's "Wake Up America! This is what 'Really' happened!!" approach would be fantastic, enlightening and courageous.

Phranqnmd@mac.com

(Reply to this)

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