The premise of
The Guys is simple: A fire captain (Anthony LaPaglia), who lost eight firemen in the fall of the World Trade Center, asks a journalist (Sigourney Weaver) to help him compose eulogies for these men. It's only a week after the attack; their bodies haven't yet been found, but the families are holding services. The writer cajoles the sometimes inarticulate and plain-spoken captain into talking about the men--who range from the captain's best friend to a newcomer he'd only know a few weeks--until she's gleaned enough to piece together a tribute. Originally a play by Anne Nelson, the movie captures much of the texture of New York through montages woven into the storyline; but the piece lives or dies by the performances, and both Weaver and LaPaglia give subdued and unfancy but carefully wrought performances that make the most of this potent material.
--Bret Fetzer
1 Truly remarkable small miracle
This understated film says more when it says nothing at all, like a "9/11 film" should be. Instead of having the viewer relive the carnage of the actual day, it focuses on the effects of the tragedy on our lives, hour by hour, person by person. The scene where Sigourney Weaver is waking from sleep, only to be reminded that "it happened", was lived by everyone in this country. I fear that someday, when we pass the time enough to where we are ready to "Pearl Harbor"-ize the event, motion pictures of this character will be deemed as insufficient, even insulting. Quite the contrary. In its simple, stately way, this movie tells us alot about life, love, and ourselves. A true gem.
2 Fitting Tribute
This is a very touching and moving film and a fitting tribute to the many heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice during the 9/11 attack on America. The acting is as it should be, conveying bits and pieces of so many lost lives for the viewer to reflect upon.
This should by no means be considered entertainment, but rather a sincere tribute and thank you to those who gave their lives!
3 The Guys
This movie is meticulous, captivating, and a real tear jerker.
Watch Anthony Lapaglia's eyes. You can feel the emotional depth of being lost and helpless; confused (not being able to really comprehend the why behind the act), and the immenseness of the loss resulting from the event. Sigourney Weaver is quietly compassionate, maneuvering through the confusion of feelings to find the personalities of the missing comrades. It's beautifully done and Sigourney Weaver and Anthony Lapaglia were perfect choices for the roles.
4 Unusual movie, powerful reminder of 9/11
*****
This movie is, on the surface, a simple story about a fire captain who is assisted by a writer in composing eulogies for the men he lost in 9/11. However, it is much more than this. As the writer tells her story (how she worked with the captain), she explores the many complex ramifications of 9/11 on New York City, and indeed, upon all of us. Moreover, as the captain and the writer work together, you come to see the firefighters individually, and to appreciate their daily service and sacrifice.
It is a moving and powerful movie. It is somewhat painful, but in a good way, as we all need to be reminded of 9/11, to never forget. There are no graphic scenes or heavily disturbing visual scenes. I cried at several parts through it. It deeply affected me, and I will not forget it, as I do many movies, once their story has been told. I don't think I'll ever look at firefighters the same way, either. Although it is a movie about one moment in America's history, it is a movie about all of life, too, and a good exploration of grief and existential things (without being preachy or intellectual at all).
The acting was great, music great, and it was put together in an unusual way--9/11 through the eyes of two people writing eulogies--who would think of this? But it works, and it works well.
This is a movie to own. If the idea of the movie interested you enough to even read this review, I would highly recommend getting it.
****
5 Honoring those who died while giving their all
I stumbled across this film this morning while waiting for a call from my son. I didn't know what it was at first because I came into it a few minutes late. I soon realized what I was watching. I found this film to be very touching. It brought back much of the sorrow I felt for all in New York during that time. At the same time, it provided me with comfort in knowing that there are still so many people like these men out there doing their jobs as firefighters, police, etc. Saving so many lives day after day. I think this film captured the essence of those men and gave many of us a chance to glimpse into their lives. I believe we owe them that much. In conclusion, I give this film 5 stars. It accomplished it's goal by putting me in touch with my emotions about 09/11/01.
6 don't kiss my a$$ then
We never asked for the attention that we have received from everybody. I guess just some people have come to realize how challenging our job really is. But we do not expect a pat on the back for it, Because we do realize that is our job. Just remember that one day you might need one of us to come in and save your a$$, then one day you might appreciate what we do. but know worry I will not expect you to kiss my a$$ at all, because I can speak for all fireman, police, & E.M.S we are not that type of people we are just "doing our job".
7 LaPaglia is amazing
I almost never cry at movies, but Anthony LaPaglia had me tearing up all through this movie. I'm not a big fan of soppy platitudes about 9-11, but this movie was very touching. It dismissed a lot of the big-picture stuff in favour of the minutia of people's lives that make them worth knowing about. This is a story about humans, not heroes, which I found refreshing.
Sigourney Weaver is also very good, as usual.
My only complaint is that there were a few instances of repetition in the writing. I'm not sure if that was supposed to be deliberate, as in the character repeating himself out of angst and stress, or if it was bad script editing. I noticed it though because it was jarring, which means if it was supposed to be there, it wasn't handled expertly by the writer. That could have used some polishing.
Other than that, I thought this was a good movie, especially if you're a LaPaglia fan as I am.
8 Very touching
I just watched this on Starz last night and was very moved by it's touching dialogue and beautiful theme, "Dawning of the Day".
I'm glad they didn't show any of the actual horror, that would've ruined it.
I don't think we're kissing anyone's a$$es by the way, we owe FDNY a great deal. Maybe, "Are you kdding me", you should think about that if they ever have to rescue you from a burning building.
9 Are you kidding me....
Worst movie I have ever seen. And lets stop kissing NYFD & NYPD a$$es already please!!
10 3 Stars as a film, but this is more than just a film
I have often wondered what I could get out of a particular movie. I wondered what I would learn, what enjoyment I would recieve. This movie, for the first time, gave me the idea of giving something back.
This is not a great film on any tehnical aspect. The story isn't all that enjoyable either, but this movie was still a powerful reflection on the impact of Sept 11 on America specifically, but beyond that, it attempts to glorify the humanity which surfaced in everyone after the events.
We may not take much out of this film, but we can at least give back compassion to the cause which this film is dedicated to.
11 Great 9/11 commemoration
"The Guys" wonderfully desplicts the families' losses from 9/11. The screenplay writers display the aftermath of this terrible tragedy, leaving little to the imagination. Anthony LaPaglia and Sigourney Weaver wonderfully perform their roles as a NY fireman and a newspaper reporter. The cast and crew appeared to have researched the event through more than just news coverage. This is what made "The Guys" more than just a movie. It's a commemoration of the lives that were lost and the friends/families left behind.
12 A Powerful And Moving Eulogy For The Guys!
On September 11, 2001, 343, (three hundred forty-three), of New York City's Bravest were killed while doing their job, rescuing people at the World Trade Center. The tragedy of September 11, and the loss of these courageous men and women, as well as the deaths of thousands of innocent human beings, haunts the people of New York to this day. "The Guys" is a most powerful and fitting eulogy to those who sacrificed their lives so that others could live.
A fire captain, (Anthony LaPaglia), of a ladder company located in lower Manhattan, lost eight of his men when the Twin Towers collapsed. Six other men in his firehouse, part of the engine company, also died that day. He is experiencing tremendous grief, and is obviously still in shock, when he approaches a journalist, (Sigourney Weaver), to ask her for help in composing eulogies for "his guys." He says, "The call came. The guys went out. They haven't found them yet. The families want a service. What am I going to tell them?" The journalist, living with her own grief, sadness and depression, has felt helpless, useless when confronting the terrible events that have so impacted her city, the nation and the world. At last, by helping this grieving, inarticulate man to compose the eulogies for his men and their families, she can do something to help.
The writer coaxes information about each lost firefighter from the captain, piecing together anecdote and tidbit until portraits emerge that give life to each individual. The result is a thoughtful and powerful tribute that makes men who became heroes into human beings again - recognizable to friends, family and co-workers.
The screenplay is superb, as is the acting of Weaver and LaPaglia. He is steeped in sorrow and loss, but emerges from his shell occasionally to relate stories about the guys. Ms. Weaver, appears to be walking a fine line between giving in to her feelings and trying to be objective, to empathize with LaPaglia in order to glean as much information as she can.
This film has been produced in a very tasteful manner. There are no shots of fire and destruction. The catastrophe is portrayed in a very poignant manner, by sheets of paper from the WTC flying along the street, near the firehouse. The music is exquisite and appropriate. As a New Yorker, I feel better having seen the film, and for this powerful reminder of The Guys.
JANA
13 Excellent, Moving, Powerful
I was fortunate enough to see this movie when it was released in April at Lincoln Center in NYC and a second time in a smaller theather in Westchester, and was even more priveledged to have Jim Simpson, Anne Nelson & Sigourney Weaver at the screening to answer questions. That night after I saw it, I immediately e-mailed everyone I knew and told them they "MUST SEE" this film!!!
This is an extremely moving story, articulating the thoughts and emotions of most New Yorkers who endured the tragedy in our own city. Beautifully written, acted and directed. People out of the NY area might not appreciate it as much as the rest of us, but nonetheless, extremely powerful and touching.
P.S. - There are no scenes of the towers for those who are hesitant to see it.
14 Art and life both real
Seven or eight years ago, I was the only audience member in this screening room of this movie theater, for the great two-person movie, CLOSET LAND which, to my mind, made a star of Alan Rickman. Similarly now, there was no one else in the same screening room watching THE GUYS.
Sigourney Weaver did her usual fine work, if a bit dispassionately.
But Anthony LaPaglia, a very competent actor on television ("Murder One," "Without A Trace") proves himself one truly fine artist in this two-person movie. At the top of his game, he plays a NYC fire chief who, shortly after the 9/11 tragedy, has to give eight eulogies and seeks the help of a writer who helps him with his ideas and words.
This is a look into the creative process as, first, we hear LaPaglia talk about each man to Weaver, then we hear her translation, and at times we hear his rendering of that. Moving and fascinating.
This movie is singularly unpopular so see it now.
15 Powerful and moving
Anthony LaPaglia and Sigourney Weaver give powerful performances that grab your attention from the beginning and hold you spellbound until the end. Together they truthfully conveyed the raw emotions of people struggling to make sense of the incomprehensible. LaPaglia certainly deserves an Oscar for his portrayal of Nick. He is truly one of the most gifted actors on screen. The only negative is that the movie ended so soon. I wanted to learn more about this captain and his guys.
