There was no shortage of viewing options when it came to the 20th memorial anniversary of 9-11. What was a human life worth in the face of one of the greatest tragedies in American history? That’s the question that is addressed in the Netflix original film, Worth.
The job of distributing money to the victims and their families via the 9-11 Victims’ Compensation Fund falls to one man, Ken Feinberg, and his legal team in an effort to prevent an economic collapse.
Tied almost directly to the 20th Memorial Anniversary of 9-11, it felt a little out of place streaming on Netflix. I’m not sure if the was the original plan for the release but it doesn’t feel that way. This type of movie is more traditionally in line with ones like The Big Short or Spotlight that cover important moments in time and have big theatrical releases but aren’t saddled with timeliness. Maybe it’s because the release came within a week of the anniversary that it didn’t seem to stand above the rest. That’s not to say it’s bad, it just feels like a myriad of other legal dramas.
A famous, successful, exceedingly wealthy lawyer takes on a case that forces him to reevaluate his moral compass and ultimately becomes the champion of the cause for the little guy. It’s basically the legal drama blueprint and, it works so well, that there’s typically at least one of these movies in any given year. I just felt like that formula was a little dry given the context of the story being told in this film, especially with no shortage of other viewing options that were packed with archival footage and first-hand survivor accounts surrounding the anniversary.
When you’re making a film like this there’s going to be a lot of pressure not to mess it up and maybe that’s why it stays on the path that’s been comfortably traveled for many years prior. Director Sara Colangelo put the film in the hands of her stars, namely Michael Keaton (as Ken Feinberg) and Stanley Tucci (and let their veteran presence lead the way. They both give the kind of venerable and compelling performances that form the backbone and the heart of the story.
Amy Ryan, who plays Feinberg’s #2, is tasked with being a middle ground between the two as she’s good at her job but also much more empathetic when it comes to the people they’re tasked with helping. Ryan is a great conduit between the dueling personalities and her performance quietly stitches together to opposing sides.
The biggest takeaway from Max Borenstein’s screenplay is probably the thought process behind the initiation of the compensation fund for the victims of 9-11 as a way to offset lawsuits that would tank the economy. It’s not surprising, but it’s still impressively cold. As with many legal dramas, there is a lot of exposition needed to convey the message and the script is good at keeping that element engaging.
Of the things I watched in memory of 9-11, this one was good but less emotional than the majority of other offerings. It’s more about the struggles of the people involved in figuring out the compensation fund than it is about the victims themselves. That’s probably why it came out the weekend prior to the anniversary.
Recommendation: If you’re a fan of legal dramas, this is a good offering with some very good performances and significant historical context.
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