Backdraft
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Movie Reviews of Backdraft
Movie Review: Fire has it's own character
Summary: 4 Stars
`It lives, it breathes and it hates'. This is the description made by Robert DeNiro's character in Backdraft, stating the volatile nature of something we all fear, but rely on; Fire.
Backdraft is a different movie, filled with characters who are flawed and angry with one another. There are many messages that go along with this movie. I'm not sure where Ron Howard was going with the relationships of the characters, maybe no where and that's ok. Why try so hard to make the relationships go somewhere in such a short amount of time when we can clearly tell that the issues between them are a result of a lifetime of hardships and disagreements. These are not the kind of disputes that get resolved in a short period of time, if ever. You can take away what you want from the movie in that respect.
The movie centers around Brian McCaffrey (William Baldwin), who returns home to Chicago after years of failed business ventures to make sure he doesn't follow the family line of becoming a Firefighter. After giving in and completing the Fire Academy, he is placed in his brother's company, one of the toughest. His brother Steven (Kurt Russell) is still a bit annoyed with him for not deciding to become a fireman right off the bat (Chicago firefighters have a stout tradition for family continuance and stubborn old fashioned fire fighting that has no room for progressive tactics). He seems determined to make sure Brian either stays with it and becomes as good as he is, or quits. Brian takes it personally at every turn. Sibling rivalry ensues.
Subplots abound as we learn that fire stations are being closed for political purposes and Brian finds he has feelings for childhood friend (Jennifer Jason Leigh). DeNiro plays Donald Rimgale, the Fire Investigator that is looking into the Backdraft murders (a phenomenon that causes a fire in a closed room to subside after using all the oxygen, but explodes when O2 is reintroduced from the open door), high level politicians and businessman are being killed with this method and it becomes an MO. DeNiro is solid in his role as the Arson investigator, spouting lines about loving fire and understanding it's nature. Kurt Russell is good as he swaggers through his role, a character who attacks fire, knowing for some reason that he won't ever be killed by it. Baldwin seems lost as usual, but the character himself is somewhat lost trying to decide what to do in his personal struggle. Leigh doesn't seem interested in her role but manages to get through and Rebecca De Mornay plays the small role she has as Steven's estranged wife with great world-weary realism. Scott Glenn, mercilessly put in a shaved down role, is good as well. The best character though is Donald Sutherland, playing Ronald Bartel, a pyro-psycho who is locked up in a mental institution. He comes up for release occasionally and Rimgale goes in and repeatedly proves just how insane he still is, no matter what he tricks the doctors and release board into thinking. Sutherland is obviously having the most fun with his part. His character is called upon to help find out who is behind the Backdraft murders.
The biggest character of the film though is the fire, and it is astounding. Even though the movie is over 11 years old, it holds up today. With a combination of real fire exaggerated with computer affects in some spots, the visual result is frightening and actually looks alive in some scenes. All in all, the movie is good, although there are a lot of elements squeezed in to make it somewhat epic, and even though it doesn't quite reach that status, it is a good all around movie with great action, emotion and special effects.
Movie Review: The fire rages on in this thriller.
Summary: 4 Stars
Stephen McCaffrey (Kurt Russell) and Brian McCaffrey (William Baldwin) are both firefighters in the same unit. They are also brothers whose father died in the line of duty as a firefighter. Never having been on great terms with each other, they now have to work side by side, while Stephen is in charge. And the fires they fight are becoming more and more frequent and more and more dangerous because of the lack of firefighters thanks to the cities cut in manning due to supposed money issues. To top it all off, the fires are beginning to look a lot like an arsonist that is targeting certain individuals within the city.
While Backdraft might not be the best thriller out there, it is still a good one. Having not seen this movie since the theaters, I was caught in suspense until the ending because I had no clue who the arsonist was. Sure I had my guesses, but I was never sure. Kurt Russell was amazing as Lt. McCaffrey and as the brother of Brian. I could totally see Kurt being this firefighter for real. And even though Robert Deniro has a small role in this film, it is of course done with perfection. I could've done with a lot more of his character for sure. Willy Baldwin, he was ok. I'd much rather see him act than Stephen Baldwin for sure. Even the fire itself seemed like an actor itself in this movie the way Ron Howard filmed it. With it's creaks and groans and screams and sizzles, it just seems alive. I tell you what though, I'm still not a Donald Sutherland fan...heh. The only time I liked him in this movie was when he was up for parole and Robert Deniro started questioning him. That's when he shined, but other than that, I thought his acting was too goofy. Also, while I said Backdraft is a good thriller, sometimes it just feels a little cookie cutter. The way the investigation of the arsonist was being handled seemed like a straight rip off from Silence of the Lambs. And the bickering between the two brothers seemed kind of like "As the Firefighters turn..." And some of the actors just seemed wrong for their parts like Jennifer Jason Leigh and Rebecca De Mornay. They are ok actresses and all, but I don't know, they just didn't seem to fit in here. Maybe it's just me. One thing though that I did truly enjoy was the interactions between the firefighters. They seemed a lot like a family like I would imagine a firefighter unit to be. Joking around with each other when off duty, and working like a single person (most of the time) while on the job. Everyone just seemed to mesh really well with each other when it came to the firefighters.
In the end, I would say give this a rent, because I don't really see much second time viewing when it comes to this movie. Good movie though.
P.S.- I didn't even know this was a Ron Howard film until I saw his brother Clint Howard playing a Pathologist. Had to check then..heh.
Movie Review: Backdraft: cool, but unrealistic
Summary: 4 Stars
The thing about this movie, is that it is cool to finally have a movie just about fire fighting. Yeah firefighting, I'd like to see more movies about firefighting because I am one myself, that is why I realize how incredibly unrealistic the film actually is. There is no way any man or woman could walk around a smokey room without a SCBA (Self Contained Breathing Aparatus). Also, these guys aren't wearing hoods, their necks would be awefully crispy after every fire. Plus, did any body else realize that the fire didn't really spread, it kinda just sat there. Well rather is sat all around the building.
I was reading the review before about a guy who was hanging out at his fathers fire station. Well, that's great, my dad's a firefigher too, but where he was wrong, there is such a thing as a backdraft. A backdraft occurs when a fire is contained in an enclosed room where it is not large enough to open any air holes or pockets. As the fire grows it uses up all the oxygen in the room until there is no more. And as depected in the movie, when oxygen is presented in the rooms atmosphere, an explosion, probably not as large, would occur. Although a rare occurance, backdraft is a serious threat especially in urban or large buildings. He was right however, there is a such thing as a flash over. That's when the contents in a room become so hot they burst in to flames.
All in all the movie was entertaing and took an odd twist. For that I give it four stars, not for it being realistic for that I know it is not.
Movie Review: Firefighter brothers try to solve their relationship
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a great film giving a real insight into the jobs and lifes of firefighters, with excellent special effects helping it along the way. The film starts off in the early 70s with a young (very young!) William Baldwin going with his father on what should be a routine fire but tragically Brian sees his father die in front of him. 20 years later we see Brian (Billy Baldwin) and Steven (Kurt Russell) Mccaferey estranged brothers having to work together in the same fireforce, and try to make up their relationship and solve the case of a arsonist going around Chicago killing official type people. Russell and Baldwin are suberb as the fueding brothers and are supported by a great ensemble cast (Robert De Niro, Donald Sutherland, Scott Glenn and others) This is an excellent film to watch I highly reccemend it.Movie Review: Spectacular Thriller.
Summary: 4 Stars
Two feuding Fire Fighters Brothers (Kurt Russell & William Baldwin), who lives and anothers are endangered by the activties of a Clever Arsonist.Directed by Ron Howard (Nightshift, Splash, Williow) has made a Spectacular Special Effects movie Hightlight this Melodramatic film. Howard has a great supporting cast-including:Scott Glenn, Robert De Niro, Jennifer Jason Leigh, J.T. Walsh, Rebecca De Mornay and Donald Sutherland. This film has a Exciting Action Moments, it`s a well done film. Super 35. Grade:B+.