Joaquin Phoenix is great in this saga of Baltimore firefighter Jack Morrison, whose life starts flashing before his eyes when he becomes trapped in a blazing high rise. Flashbacks chronicle his memories of being a rookie at his Baltimore fire company. He remembers fighting his first fire, bonding with fellow firefighters, falling in love with a beautiful local girl (Jacinda Barrett), getting married, and having children. He also looks back on forming a close relationship with the fire chief (John Travolta) and learning to face the danger and heroics of life on the job. This film manages to wri... ng plenty of well-earned tears from its subject matter--as well as spine-tingling thrills--which are the result of solid performances, characterisation, and good naturalistic dialogue from screenwriter Lewis Colick. Barrett is great as Jack's worried wife; she and Phoenix exhibit strong, earthy chemistry in their scenes together. Travolta makes a fine fire captain who is graceful, sure of himself, and always ready to give up the spotlight to the younger actors. Other firemen include Morris Chestnut, Balthazar Getty, and Robert Patrick. The addition of a soundtrack of contemporary Irish and Irish-American folk and rock keeps the melancholia just a whisper away. The heroics of 9/11 are subtly honoured here, but never directly mentioned, which is to the film's credit.
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Ladder 49 Baltimore firefighters tackle blazes, domestic rows and the dangers of the job in this melodrama starring Joaquin Phoenix and John Travolta
"A bond forged by fire is never broken," whispers the overwrought poster tagline of this fire-fighter melodrama. Serving as a rousing tribute to the men who lost their lives in New York in the terrorist attack of 9/11, Jay Russell's watchable but stodgy movie obliquely honours the bond between the American public and the fire-fighters lost in the World Trade Centre attacks.
The movie itself never references 9/11 (or, for that matter even New York). Instead, Ladder 49 is set in Baltimore, where young firefighter Jac...
Travolta is his fire-chief and friend. Both actors give excellent performances.
Stunning film with superb effects, which will have you hanging on the edge of your seat, and have the hankies ready because some parts of the film will bring a tear to your eye, whatever you sex!
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I don't what is up with some of the ratings, but please, don't let the rating avert you from watching this movie. It's one of the most touching movies I have ever seen, and one of the few I've teared from. It's one of the best tribute movies to people who risk their lives everyday, right alongside with "The Guardian".
Great performances, by Joaquin Phoenix and John Travolta, one of the best I've seen to date.
Rate 10/10, adding to my Drama playlist, be sure to check out the other great drama movies I have there, and along with the other playlists, all the best movies categorized just for you. Watch, rate, and enjoy, thanks
