Oliver Stone to Direct Nicholas Cage in a 9/11 movie
 

Stone to Direct WTC Film Starring Cage
By Associated Press

NEW YORK - Nearly four years after the collapse of the World Trade Center, Oscar-winning director Oliver Stone will direct a film based on the story of two police officers who were trapped in the rubble on Sept. 11, 2001.

Nicolas Cage, who won a best-actor Oscar for "Leaving Las Vegas," will star as Port Authority police Sgt. John McLoughlin. McLoughlin and fellow officer William J. Jimeno became trapped during rescue efforts after the collapse of the twin towers.

Paramount Pictures said the movie is expected to be released next year.

"It's a work of collective passion, a serious meditation on what happened and carries within a compassion that heals," Stone said in a statement Friday. "It's an exploration of heroism in our country - but it's international at the same time in its humanity."

Paramount said the film also will focus on the officers' rescuers and their families. McLoughlin and Jimeno are said to be the last two men rescued.

"I feel someone had to tell the story of the people who were in the Trade Center before and after it collapsed," McLoughlin said in a statement. "It needs to be told how this horrific tragedy brought Americans and the world together to help those in need."

While the star power of Stone and Cage will likely make the movie the most high profile film to tackle 9/11, it's not the first. Many independent films have turned their lens to downtown New York, and in the 2002 film "The Guys," Anthony LaPaglia played a fire captain who lost eight men in the towers' collapse.

Stone has won best-director Oscars for "Platoon" and "Born on the Fourth of July." He also has directed "Alexander," "Nixon," "JFK" and "Wall Street."

Screen credits for Cage include "Adaptation," "City of Angels" and "Moonstruck."

As long as Stone doesn't try to film acid style or develop a gay relationship between the two officers, it should be okay.

Hmmm. Not bad, yet.

I'll be first to say "too soon".

No conspiracies involved?That must be tough for Stone to avoid.

Too soo..... DAMN YOU TROYSTIFFLER!

I also think it's too soon. And I think Oliver Stone's about the worst person to direct this, too.

That's really lame of him.

Sure Oliver, whatever you say!

Too soon! In fact, anytime may be too soon, as families of the victims may see it as nothing more than a moneygrab by some greedy studio, capitalizing on the most tragic even in American history, or was that Pearl Harbor?

Oooo. My english teacher taught me to not use the word "most" so lightly. :)

But, yea. I guess if the guy has some sort of vision. But I just can't imagine anything like this working.

Good, we'll have something else next year to remind certain Americans we have to stop these terrorists. We had the London bombing to remind them this year.

Moving to the political forum.

Sorry, but 9-11 was not ' the most tragic event in history'.

Not even close.

This movie sounds like a bad idea though.

Please don't turn this into a political debate.

Oliver Stone? 9/11?

I know I'm not the only one who is waiting for the conspiracy theories to end up in the movie. ("It was Halliburton with George Bush's help - follow the money trail...")

Talk about one of the last guys who should direct a 9/11 movie!

And I will echo the, "Too soon," comments. WAY too soon - IMO.

this is a bad idea...

Not only too soon but a terrible idea. Also, what makes these two guys' story more important than anyone else's?

Eh, what makes them any less. They have a story to tell, I don't have any problem with that.

But, I think it's a bad idea also. All of the documentaries, have pretty much covered what needs to be covered. And this is documentary material.

Well, I meant to say American history. The holocaust was much more tragic. Other events in human history were also more tragic, such as the genocide by Pol Pot, etc.

I Googled the name Sgt. John McLoughlin and read that he was the last survivor to be pulled out of the rubble of the WTC. So I guess that makes it easier for him to become a symbol for all those who were saved and lost. He could have wound up on either side of that fence.

Slavery and the Civil War was far more tragic and had a far bigger impact on our nation's history than 9/11 (so far). We're still dealing with fallout from it today in some ways.

Too soon would of been 9/10.

Comedy
rotfl rotfl rotfl rotfl rotfl rotfl rotfl



On a real note though, this isn't a good idea, its waaaay too soon for something like this, just because Hollywood is out of ideas to make movies about, doesn't mean they should touch this subject matter, wait another 10+ years.

Note to Oliver Stone: Too early to touch this subject matter, but your timing is perfect you should make a movie about the JONBENET RAMSEY case, its been long enough and its full of conspircies for you to dive deep into. ;)

I'm not sure about too soon..if it was done seriously and respectfully, a 9/11 movie might not be a bad thing at this point. But Oliver Stone???? I do so loathe him as a director, and I'm afriad I only see him re-opening old wounds and failing to provide any real message of redemption or courage that would lend merit to the movie.

Not too soon, not a bad idea.

Some people are way too sensitive.

Which is exactly why I wouldn't greenlight this movie if I were in charge of a studio - and it has nothing to do with my feelings on the subject matter. This movie faces an extremely difficult uphill battle to get butts in seats, and it is likely to be a box office disaster.

Maybe I'm one of those who is too "sensitive," but I have no interest in seeing a 9/11 movie right now. Especially if it is directed by Oliver Stone....