Restores your faith in the human race, a story that will move you. To the film makers and the family my thanks for allowing this to be told in a manner befitting the main characters, my only regret is the need to have to tell the story. May they rest in peace.
7 Reviews
That Day
NoDakTatum6 October 2023
John Vigiano is one of New York City's most decorated firefighters. He was proud when his namesake, John Jr., joined the fire department, and younger son Joseph became a member of the police emergency rescue unit. Then September 11, 2001 happened, and John Vigiano lost two of his sons in a span of minutes at the World Trade Center. "Twin Towers" is one of the thousands of stories from that day.
Producer Dick Wolf shot a reality show pilot centering around one of New York City's police emergency rescue units. The two dozen unit members are an extended family, and are called upon to do everything from S. W. A. T.-like arrests to water and air rescues. The men are close knit, but Joseph Vigiano stood out. He had been shot five times on two different occasions in the line of duty, a bulletproof vest saving his life each time. He is rather quiet in front of the cameras, talking enthusiastically about how much he loves his job. He also is sure to kiss his three young sons goodbye before he goes to work each day, just in case the unthinkable would happen. On September 1st, 2001, Joseph's infant son was baptized. Ten days later, the unthinkable did happen. Joseph called his father on a cell phone, telling him he was headed to the World Trade Center. After the towers' collapse, another co-worker called the cell phone, and got a male voice. It was an EMT worker, who had no idea where the cell phone's owner was. It was confirmed that both Joseph, and his older brother, were killed in the collapse while trying to get people out. Fourteen officers from Joseph's unit alone died. John Vigiano's pain is almost unbearable to watch. He talks about passing on what he learned about having a life-threatening career- no matter what the fight or how you feel, kiss your loved ones goodbye no matter what, in case something happens. His pride at raising two competing brothers who drove him crazy sometimes before becoming heroes on that day is uplifting.
"Twin Towers" is both a reference to the World Trade Center, and these two men who were lost. The film makers spend most of their time on Joseph, since his unit was the subject of the television pilot. The film is just thirty four minutes, and I would have liked to see more about Joseph and John Jr. The directors do incorporate news footage from that day, and it still puts a lump to my throat. The Vigiano boys died heroically. This film is small, tells its story, and leaves the viewer wanting more. Not only more about these men, but wanting to get that day back. Wanting to know something about all three thousand people who lost their lives that day. It takes a film like "Twin Towers" to remind us that politicians and their spin, petty family problems, and all the other little things that seem so big now are in fact meaningless in the grand scheme of things. September 11, 2001 was just another day until the first plane hit. Doesn't today seem like "just another day," too? How about yesterday? Last week? We can prepare for the worst, hope for the best, and forgive the small differences- impossible advice in this day and age.
Producer Dick Wolf shot a reality show pilot centering around one of New York City's police emergency rescue units. The two dozen unit members are an extended family, and are called upon to do everything from S. W. A. T.-like arrests to water and air rescues. The men are close knit, but Joseph Vigiano stood out. He had been shot five times on two different occasions in the line of duty, a bulletproof vest saving his life each time. He is rather quiet in front of the cameras, talking enthusiastically about how much he loves his job. He also is sure to kiss his three young sons goodbye before he goes to work each day, just in case the unthinkable would happen. On September 1st, 2001, Joseph's infant son was baptized. Ten days later, the unthinkable did happen. Joseph called his father on a cell phone, telling him he was headed to the World Trade Center. After the towers' collapse, another co-worker called the cell phone, and got a male voice. It was an EMT worker, who had no idea where the cell phone's owner was. It was confirmed that both Joseph, and his older brother, were killed in the collapse while trying to get people out. Fourteen officers from Joseph's unit alone died. John Vigiano's pain is almost unbearable to watch. He talks about passing on what he learned about having a life-threatening career- no matter what the fight or how you feel, kiss your loved ones goodbye no matter what, in case something happens. His pride at raising two competing brothers who drove him crazy sometimes before becoming heroes on that day is uplifting.
"Twin Towers" is both a reference to the World Trade Center, and these two men who were lost. The film makers spend most of their time on Joseph, since his unit was the subject of the television pilot. The film is just thirty four minutes, and I would have liked to see more about Joseph and John Jr. The directors do incorporate news footage from that day, and it still puts a lump to my throat. The Vigiano boys died heroically. This film is small, tells its story, and leaves the viewer wanting more. Not only more about these men, but wanting to get that day back. Wanting to know something about all three thousand people who lost their lives that day. It takes a film like "Twin Towers" to remind us that politicians and their spin, petty family problems, and all the other little things that seem so big now are in fact meaningless in the grand scheme of things. September 11, 2001 was just another day until the first plane hit. Doesn't today seem like "just another day," too? How about yesterday? Last week? We can prepare for the worst, hope for the best, and forgive the small differences- impossible advice in this day and age.
A Thanks to Rob and Bill
kvigiano16 October 2010
Well first I'd like to thank Rob Port and Bill Guttentag for completing this film. You don't know how proud it makes my kids.
I just wanted to comment on the first review. I'm glad you liked the film but as you pointed out there we're three brothers and one survived, There was just two brothers. Joe and John. You hear Joe's voice on the film because he along with his Unit was being filmed for some new show or something about specialized NYPD units Joe his brother, along with Mike Curtin who is in the film and a total of 23 NYPD cops were killed before the filming was completed. Anyway I think they did a great job with this film, I just wish it could have been shown on TV. Kathy (Joes wife)
I just wanted to comment on the first review. I'm glad you liked the film but as you pointed out there we're three brothers and one survived, There was just two brothers. Joe and John. You hear Joe's voice on the film because he along with his Unit was being filmed for some new show or something about specialized NYPD units Joe his brother, along with Mike Curtin who is in the film and a total of 23 NYPD cops were killed before the filming was completed. Anyway I think they did a great job with this film, I just wish it could have been shown on TV. Kathy (Joes wife)
Watch this movie and you'll appreciate life and family.
mnishimoto11 January 2005
This video was presented in a room of 100 first responders on Maui, mostly police with some Fire & Rescue and Health Department staff, as part of a Weapons of Mass Destruction Workshop. After the movie was done, the moderator ended the first day of the workshop with a "See you all tomorrow at 8:30 sharp." No one said a word as they left. The movie humbled the entire audience and left a mark with all on the battle against terrorists.
The video images reminded everyone of the potential that they themselves could be in a similar situation as the 9/11 event. The Vigiano family went through what none of us would ever want to experience.
If you want to knock the chip of someone's shoulder or shake a person up who is feeling sorry for themselves, have them watch this movie.
The video images reminded everyone of the potential that they themselves could be in a similar situation as the 9/11 event. The Vigiano family went through what none of us would ever want to experience.
If you want to knock the chip of someone's shoulder or shake a person up who is feeling sorry for themselves, have them watch this movie.
A look a the real New Yorkers.
Anonymous_Maxine10 November 2006
I have seen several films and documentaries based on the 9/11 attacks, but none that really showed the gritty New York firefighters and other emergency responders quite as clearly and effectively as this one. The film focuses on one of the countless tragic stories that occurred that day, this one of a family of dedicated firefighters that lost two of three sons in a matter of minutes as they rushed to help at Ground Zero. The one surviving son, Joseph Vigiano, talks in the film about growing up with two brothers who eventually became heroes, even more than they already were before they were killed.
I think that the single most important thing to do to make movies and documentaries about 9/11 great - all of them - is to keep the politics out, at all costs, and this film definitely does that. It is not at all about the mistakes that were made or warnings that were ignored or phones that weren't answered or jets that weren't sent, but was only about the importance of family. United 93 came about as close to politics as I think 9/11 films can come without becoming preachy or assigning guilt, but only because it deals with the actual events, and our minds tend to have by now become so programmed to translate whatever we hear about 9/11 into a stratification of blame that we can watch an objective presentation of the events and see the blame without it even being there.
Joseph Vigiano says in this film that no matter what, he always kisses his family when he leaves and says goodbye because he never knows when he might not come home. And the important message that this film delivers to men and women and families everywhere is the feeling that, no matter what job Joseph had, his goodbyes would never change. The film is an answer to the mournful cry, "I never got to say goodbye."
I think that the single most important thing to do to make movies and documentaries about 9/11 great - all of them - is to keep the politics out, at all costs, and this film definitely does that. It is not at all about the mistakes that were made or warnings that were ignored or phones that weren't answered or jets that weren't sent, but was only about the importance of family. United 93 came about as close to politics as I think 9/11 films can come without becoming preachy or assigning guilt, but only because it deals with the actual events, and our minds tend to have by now become so programmed to translate whatever we hear about 9/11 into a stratification of blame that we can watch an objective presentation of the events and see the blame without it even being there.
Joseph Vigiano says in this film that no matter what, he always kisses his family when he leaves and says goodbye because he never knows when he might not come home. And the important message that this film delivers to men and women and families everywhere is the feeling that, no matter what job Joseph had, his goodbyes would never change. The film is an answer to the mournful cry, "I never got to say goodbye."
Pretty forgettable 911 documentary
Horst_In_Translation29 January 2017
Warning: Spoilers
"Twin Towers" is an American documentary film and with a runtime of only 34 minutes, it is a relatively short one. It was directed by Bill Guttentag and Robert David Port, who won an Oscar for their work here. For Guttentag, it was already his second win and he has more nominations, but it has also been his final appearance at the Oscars so far with the nomination here. This is the story of two brothers, police man and fire fighter, who both died at the terror attacks back in 2001. The film tries to focus on the work of these good people who helped in saving many lives after the attacks and many of them paid their efforts with their own lives, like the two men in here. Sadly, the emotional component is not working all the time. Instead the film loses itself in blatantly cringeworthy statements like "I lost 14 of my best friends" and this is where the overall emotional impact is really hurt and I find it difficult to appreciate this movie. I myself would definitely not have nominated it for an Oscar, let alone given it the awards, but two years after the attacks, it's not really that big of a surprise as America was still shaken to its core at that point. In terms of informative value, it's also underwhelming. Overall, not a good work. Thumbs down.
Memorable Tribute
Esoteric161613 March 2003
For any film on the topic of 9/11, no one can really rate its story, but even at the late Sundance screening of this film, everyone stayed awake. "Twin Towers" was gripping and brought back many 9/11 memories. This is truly a story that is worth being told especially on this memorable event. It seems that a ton of effort was put into the creation of this film and I wish you good luck at the Oscars.
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