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The fuss about “United 93,” which details the by now well-known story of said flight’s passengers and how they fought back against their hijackers on Sept. 11, is whether it’s being released too soon. Of course, art of any kind should never have to wait; but what people are really worried about is not art, but “the 9/11 movie” – the exploitative Hollywood version.

The fact remains – despite Universal’s donation of 10 percent of the opening-weekend gross to the Flight 93 National Memorial – that “United 93” is going to, in all likelihood, profit from tragedy. The remarkable thing about it, however, is that for the most part it manages to be as restrained, tasteful and well-made as one could hope from a studio production.

Director Paul Greengrass’ mission is to recreate the day’s events as faithfully as possible, and he achieves a meticulous level of realism, using either relatively unknown or nonprofessional actors – some characters are played by themselves. The events on the plane – fact-checked through interviews with the passengers’ families, cockpit recordings and the 9/11 Commission Report – unfold in real-time with Greengrass’ trademark handheld camera work (“The Bourne Supremacy,” “Bloody Sunday”).

A few moments come off as Hollywood cliches, including the obligatory close-up shots of people standing around with their hands clasped near their mouths after the planes hit the towers, a few liberties taken with the ending and an unnecessary and confusing final dedication. Still, such moments are exceptions, and the film’s believability earns the audience’s emotional investment.

The film also succeeds enormously as entertainment. It’s slow to start, but once the plane leaves the ground, the intensity builds more skillfully than any thriller in recent memory. By the end, the tension in the cabin is palpable. The passengers’ climactic attack is finally messy, desperate, cathartic.

The problem is, that’s it. “United 93” executes its premise with genuine heart and few flaws, but the matter-of-fact premise undercuts the potential for great art. By sticking to straightforward reenactment, the film is thematically little more than a sincere tribute, and it ultimately feels superfluous.

Considering Sept. 11 is possibly the most culturally significant event of these times, it’s not too demanding to want a little more.