United 93

Starring David Allen Bashe, Richard Bekins . Rated R

You gotta see this if: You’re able to revisit one of America’s worst crime scenes.

final analysis: **** No matter how you reacted to 9/11, “United 93” lands a punch in the gut. It tells the story of the fourth plane to be highjacked that Tuesday morning. Flight 93 was the plane that missed its target, the capital building, instead crashing in Pennsylvania. “United 93” could have been a typical Hollywood disaster movie, over-dramatized, jingoistic, and patronizing to everyone who still feels the tragedy of that day. Thankfully, British director Paul Greengrass chose to let the story speak for itself. The movie is less a drama than it is a narrative with most of the events unfolding in real time. By casting unknown actors and showing the mundane details of boarding a flight and ordering a beverage, Greengrass establishes a down-to-earth authenticity. These people could be any one of us. The detachment Greengrass shows gives his movie honesty. And though no one can know for certain what happened during the flight’s final moments, Greengrass depicts heroic acts from ordinary humans like a pulse of hope staving off feelings of helplessness when the expected finale arrives.

Akeelah

and the Bee

Starring Laurence Fishburne, Keke Palmer. Rated PG

You gotta see this if: You’ve ever used all seven letters with a triple-word score.

final analysis: *** I love words and people who can use them well. I competed in spelling bees when I was in elementary school until the fifth grade when I was eliminated by the word “committee.” It was a nerve-wracking experience and I maintain great respect for kids who compete in the bees. “Akeelah and the Bee” tells the story of Akeelah Anderson, an 11-year-old girl in L.A. with few resources but a talent for words. Despite the obligatory obstacles, Akeelah spells her way up to the national bee. It’s a story that’s formulaic and predictable, but also lovable. Keke Palmer, playing Akeelah, infuses her character with an endearing tenacity. Laurence Fishburne and Angela Bassett both do well in their roles, but it’s the kids who make this movie worth watching. In addition to showing the world of competitive spelling, “Akeelah and the Bee” also illustrates the stumbling blocks many black children face in the pursuit of education. The movie is overly schmaltzy at times, but

I-N-S-P-I-R-A-T-I-O-N-A-L.

R.V.

Starring Robin Williams, Cheryl Hines Rated PG-13

You gotta see this if: You want to see how low Robin Williams has sunk.

final analysis: * Note to Hollywood: Stop making family road trip movies! “Vacation” was brilliant; every wannabe since has been more painful than sitting in a car for 10 hours with your own family and a cassette tape of “The Partridge Family’s Greatest Hits.” The primary reason for the success of “Vacation,” was the likability of the Griswolds. Despite everything that happened to them, they were a compelling, functional family. “R.V.” steals heavily from “Vacation” with a major exception. The Munro family is so annoying that had they driven off a cliff to their fiery deaths, the movie would have been much more satisfying. The children are spoiled brats, the wife brittle and nagging, and the husband, played by Robin Williams, is a doormat. Throw in more excrement than a port-a-potty at the fair, and you’ve got a movie neck-deep in waste. The only part of the flick I found amusing was the “white trash” family who crosses paths with the Munros. Jeff Daniels, Kristin Chenowith and their brood are supposed to portray the annoying redneck clan but they displayed a lot more humor and heart.