9. United 93 (2006) - Dir. Paul Greengrass
This is somewhat of a controversial choice as obviously the ending of this film is mired by the real events that the film is showing us. I fully agree that everything that transpired on that fateful day was a travesty that will forever be remembered as a bleak moment that the world should never forget. Some people say that cinema is an escapist's fantasy. Turn on, tune in and forget about the world and your problems for ninety minutes. Escape into the land of Oz, a world of witchcraft at Hogwarts or take to the skies with Maverick as he saves the day. Though sometimes a film will come along that reminds us that despite all the efforts of brave and heroic figures, good does not always triumph. Sometimes evil prevails. All throughout United 93, I fully believed that the passengers would manage to storm the cockpit and take back the plane. I had absolutely no doubt in my mind as they knocked the first terrorist to the floor, that the trolley/battering ram that they had created would breach the door. When the unnamed passenger, a trait Paul Greengrass admitted to using as he didn't want individual heroism to overshadow the group valiance, almost has the wheel, just as the plane crashed into the ground I remember letting out an audible, "NO!" in the cinema. A few people did likewise, and the audible gasp was noticeable. Everyone was convinced it would end differently and that's the bleakest film ending isn't it? One that shows the genuine evil of real life.