I watched this film with my wife and after about two minutes we had come to two conclusions. Firstly, I wish I could be a firefighter. Secondly, she would never let me be a firefighter. This film does a great job of illustrating the pros and cons of this heroic job, and really makes you think about your own desk job.
The story is of young fire fighter Jack Morrison (Joaquin Phoenix). The film begins as the fire company is rushing into a burning factory building in hopes that they might rescue a few workers, who have been trapped inside. The floor breaks way and Morrison is not only stranded, but badly hurt. As he sits there, the film takes a For the Love of the Game type twist and the back story is delivered through flashback. But were there the former failed as the only anticipating action is the next pitch, Ladder 49 really uses this technique to heighten the sense of urgency as Morrison's life hangs in the balance.
The flashbacks take us through Morrison's training days where the "guys" haze him as he meets his wife to be Linda Morrison played by Jacinda Barrett, whose next door beauty is astounding (she's a pretty good actor too). The film, using only a few details here and there is able to illustrate the concrete bond the two have as they have children, bury fallen comrades and just live life. It is a bond created in two scenes that any couple would be jealous of.
Morrison's best friend falls through the roof in to a blazing inferno, and dies, and this really puts some perspective into this film. Morrison must decide if he wants to take a desk job in order to keep his worrying wife and children's minds at ease, or take over the more dangerous job that just killed his friend. Ultimately, he takes the dangerous job, leading him to be stuck under a pile of rubble in the burning factory from the beginning of the film.
I love blockbusters. Jaws is my favorite movie. I love explosions and special effects and outrageous stories, but Ladder 49 is different. This film possesses some traits which set it aside from the typical Hollywood cookie cutter high dollar film, and you just have to watch it to pick them out. One thing I can tell you, watch this film with someone you love. Watching the bond between Jack and Linda grow on the screen, you will leave glad to have each other.
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Josh Gloer, Movie Correspondent
You can find Josh's column One Harsh Critic at http://oneharshcritic.gather.com.
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