Out of those who are old enough to remember 9/11, most remember where they were and what they were doing when they found out about the incident that changed everything for America and in effect, for the world. The aftermath was like any other tragedy, it left millions trying to cope with loss and trying to figure out what went wrong. Left them wondering, what could they have done to prevent it.
After 17 years, Amazon’s new mini-series, The Looming Tower revisits 9/11, but instead of focusing on the event itself, it traces the events in the late 1990s that may have paved the path for the tragedy. Starring Emmy award winner Jeff Daniels and Golden Globe nominee Peter Sarsgaard, the mini-series not only depicts the rise of Osama Bin Laden and Al-Qaeda but also reveals how the cut-throat FBI-CIA rivalry and a series of resulting intelligence failures may have been one of the shocking reasons why 9/11 couldn’t be prevented in time.
The Looming Tower follows members of FBI’s I-49 Squad in New York and CIA’s Alec Station in Washington, D.C., as both these counter-terrorism divisions jostle for terrorism-related intel even though they share the same goal.
While the I-49 chief, John O’Neill is convinced that the Al-Qaeda is preparing for an attack on America, he and his squad face stiff resistance from other federal organizations like the CIA. Alec Station’s chief, Martin Schmidt is driven by the conviction that the CIA is the only agency competent enough to handle terrorism threats of this magnitude. So, he and his team go against the President’s orders and deliberately keep vital information from the FBI.
The Looming Tower stars Jeff Daniels as the chief of FBI’s counter-terrorism unit, while Peter Sarsgaard plays the head of CIA’s counterpart division. They’re supported by a stellar cast that includes Bill Camp, Wrenn Schmidt, Tahar Rahim, Michael Stuhlbarg, Louis Cancelmi and many more.
The Looming Tower provides a unique and nail-biting perspective to one of 21st century's defining moments. While the viewers already know how the mini-series will end, it’s what leads up to that tragedy that keeps them on the edge of their seats.
Watch the trailer to know more.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)