WTC View (2005)

WTC View

Directed By: Brian Sloan

Cast: Michael Urie, Liz Kapplow,

Reviewed by: Ken Mooney

Rating: Three-Out-Of-Five Bananas

Special Features:

• None

WTC View is the story of Eric (Ugly Betty’s Michael Urie), a young gay photographer trying to rent out his spare room in the weeks following the fall of the twin towers and his break-up with his boyfriend of two years. It’s one of the most personal and resonant of several post-9/11 movies that have been made, with the story hinging on the reactions of Eric, his friend Josie (Kapplow) and the various people who come to view the room and the ominous view from the window.

It’s very obvious that WTC View began life as a play, written and staged by director Sloan with the same cast as we have here. It’s a comfortable transition, all the actors at ease in their characters’ skins. Unfortunately, it’s also painfully obvious, the movie never leaving the confines of Eric’s apartment save for the final scene: it’s a valid plot point, but the lack of movement doesn’t help make this any more of a film, merely providing a monotonous background for the emotional drama.

WTC View is truly honest and charming: Eric, Josie and the potential roommates run the whole gamut of reactions to the events of 9/11, sometimes coming to blows over their varying interpretations, fears and hopes of the changes to their lives and the city in which they live. We never see the view from Eric’s apartment, only the reaction to it, which says more than enough. It’s a testament to the actors, Urie especially, that they can convey all the range they need to, fear, disgust, bravado humour, all without the trappings of such a symbol to play against.

But WTC View is not without its faults: great as the actors are, you can’t help but feel that you’re being cheated by watching a play on film, and some of the more emotional moments are drawn out far too long, missing the silence and the tension so palpable and necessary in the theatre. While every actor works brilliantly with what they have, most are brief players on a stage, brought on to voice their opinion on 9/11, provoke a reaction, and exit with a flourish. As such, much of the film is watered down into melodramatic, and somewhat forced, over-and-under-reactions.

But above all else, when watching WTC View, you can’t help but wonder if there’s some connection to New York or the landmark that you’re missing to appreciate this film, and although Eric’s sexuality isn’t a huge part of the plot, the favouring of Will and Grace style camp sensibilities over cinematic tension may alienate the less metropolitan viewer, detracting from the true matter at the heart of the movie.

Verdict:

A charming, personal and believable story, if somewhat drawn out and not without its flaws.

Originally published on FrankTheMonkey.com