Ladder 49

Plot Summary

During a vicious warehouse blaze, Baltimore fire-fighter Jack Morrison (Joaquin Phoenix) becomes separated from his unit. He finds a survivor in the building and manages to winch the man to safety but before he can get out himself there is an explosion which causes part of the building to collapse. Falling through the collapsed floor Jack is injured. He's in bad shape and his unit must try and reach him before it's too late. Lying amongst the rumble Jack thinks back over his life as a fire-fighter.

Review

This movie seems to be trying to achieve two things. The first is to produce an entertaining action movie and secondly, to provide a fitting tribute to fire-fighters who often risk their lives to save others. Unfortunately it falls short on both counts. There are some dramatic images of burning buildings and some dramatic rescues but the momentum is broken by a lot of dull parts. The story is told in a very segmented way as it switches between the warehouse blaze and flashbacks of Jack's life. We see him starting at the station as a rookie, his first fire, meeting his wife, his first child etc. Many of the flashbacks simply aren't that interesting and include too many unoriginal stereotypical ideas.

As a tribute to fire-fighters it goes too far by idolizing them and huge amounts of sentimentality are heaped on towards the end. No doubt the job involves great courage but I felt the tone was a bit patronising.

Joaquin Phoenix plays the main character, Jack Morrison, and most of the story revolves around his life. Other characters like fire-chief Mike Kennedy (John Travolta) and Jack's wife, Linda (Jacinda Barrett) are under-developed and it would have helped if these character's were given a bit more depth. 

The Bottom Line: Fails to impress with regard to action scenes and fails to inspire as a tribute to fire-fighters by overplaying its hand.

Reviewed by Niall Quinn, Premier Movie Reviews 2005.

RELATED MOVIE REVIEWS: JOAQUIN PHOENIX: Signs,  The Village.  JOHN TRAVOLTA:  Swordfish,

Genre: Action

Director: Jay Russell

Certificate: Ladder 49 is rated 12A by the Irish Film Censor's Office (www.ifco.ie).

Official Movie Website: Ladder 49

~ Main Cast ~

John Travolta

Joaquin Phoenix

Jacinda Barrett

RATING

ONLY IF YOU HAVE NOTHING BETTER TO DO