911 Mysteries, Part 1: Demolitions

Director Sofia Shafquat's (who goes by Smallstorm in the credits) 911 Mysteries, Part 1: Demolitions argues for an alternative interpretation for the collapse of the World Trade Center twin towers on September 11, 2001. Along with her conspiracy-theory collaborator Brad Waddell, a self-described conservative Republican and demolitions hobbyist, Shafquat argues that the WTC buildings were brought down by a government-sponsored controlled demolition. Narrated by Shafquat, the documentary offers layers upon layers of circumstantial proof as it examines evidence from borrowed sources, including news footage, PBS and History Channel documentary clips, and snippets from expert testimony (all accompanied by the words “Official Story” stamped across the bottom of the screen, lest we forget). The film obsessively analyzes footage of the collapse in slow motion—comparing it to buildings being demolished commercially—while also serving up interview clips of survivors (including one who describes hearing weird noises on the 34th floor of one of the towers weeks before 9/11) and rescue workers. Not surprisingly, the documentary's explanation for the reasons behind the destruction of the WTC is very vague, but even more astounding is the notion that viewers would believe our bumbling bureaucratic government could somehow pull this off. Not recommended. Aud: C, P. (J. Wadland)