LADDER 49
US, 2004, 115 minutes, Colour.
Joaquin Phoenix, John Travolta, Jacinda Barrett, Robert Patrick, Morris Chestnut, Billy Burke, Balthazar Getty, Tim Guinee, Kevin Chapman, Jay Hernandez.
Directed by Jay Russell.
This is an action that drama that reviews itself. The action sequences are quite spectacular: fires in Baltimore city buildings and the efforts of the firefighters to rescue people and put out the fires. These sequences are filmed with intensity and edited to create a breakneck pace. On the other hand the human drama sequences are exactly what you are expecting, a group of decent people living their ordinary lives. This means that, depending on your interest preference, Ladder 49 is a drama punctuated by action or an action show punctuated by births, marriages and deaths.
The film opens with a huge blaze and Jack Morrison (Joaquin Phoenix) rescuing a worker before he is trapped and a smouldering floor gives way. If our whole life passes before us as we face death, then the film has Jack’s life pass before him in flashbacks. He is the good-natured and willing rookie, the happily married man who loves his wife (Jacinda Barrett) and children, the heroic veteran, the man who is prepared to risk danger in order to save lives. While there have been several films about firefighters (most notably Ron Howard’s 90s film, Backdraft), this one evokes memories of the heroic fighters who battled the World Trade Center explosions and can be seen as a tribute to them. In the aftermath of September 11th, the film opts for grim realism rather than neat Hollywood heroics (though there is a lot of heroics).
Joaquin Phoenix is an actor who can play villains (as in Gladiator) but who can also communicate reticent charm. He certainly does that here, giving the film a rather warmer human face than might be expected. John Travolta is the older chief of the department which is peopled by the usual suspects (some fights but generally good comradeship) who are surprisingly mostly Catholic. The technical advisers have got it right this time for the several sequences of marriages, baptisms, funerals.
One can watch the human drama in neutral and move into higher gear with the fires.
1.Audience interest in firefighting stories? Heroism? Service to people in danger?
2.The film post-9/11? Memories of the World Trade Centre and the firemen dead? This film echoing the grimness? A tribute?
3.The Baltimore setting, the city, the fire department, homes, shops, restaurants? Authentic feel? The musical score?
4.The frequent action sequences, the range of fires, the range of dangers? The firemen on call? Their going to the fires, their techniques, trying to save people? Flames, smoke, collapsing buildings, ropes and friction? How well did the film illustrate the dangers? How well did the film illustrate the ingenuity of firemen? Their heroism and courage? Fatalities?
5.The framework of the film, the fire, Jack and his work, the collapse of the building, his fall, being trapped? Returning to Jack trapped with showing his flashback memories? The finale, the attempted rescue? The failure? His death, funeral, tribute?
6.Jack’s story, remembering arriving as a rookie? Meeting Mike and his odd behaviour, the drinking, wearing only shorts? Meeting the men? The practical joke with the confession? His cottoning on? (And the later confession with Keith Perez and his pretending to be gay – and catching Lenny Richter?)
7.The men, the team? Their work together, collaboration on the job? Their fights, practical jokes? Such jokes as throwing the water for the baby shower…?
8.How well did the film delineate the characters: Lenny Richter, older, bossing people, attacking rookies, blame? His later heroism and the medal, gaining it with Jack? Tommy Drake, his burns and his being in hospital? The Gauguin brothers, with Jack in the supermarket and meeting the girls, working together, the practical jokes? Tony Corrigan, Frank Mckinny?
9.John Travolta as Mike Kennedy, in charge of the group, loyalty, his demands, on the job? His friendliness, admiration for Jack, friendship with Linda? His trying to save Jack? The final tribute?
10.Jack, in the supermarket, meeting Linda, going out with her, the proposal? The wedding ceremony? The celebration? The announcing of her pregnancy? The ten years passing, the children? Her fears, trying to be honest, Jack’s reactions? Being upset, wanting to pick a fight? His Christmas attack on Richter? Linda and her patience? His not wanting her to go to hospital to see Tommy Drake and his burns? His children, a good father?
11.The Catholic background, the mock-confessions, the wedding, the funeral? The priest and the fatalities at the fires? The funeral?
12.A tribute to firemen? The realism of their work? The demands and challenge?
