Ladder 49 (Movie Review)

I was hesitant to see this movie for two reasons: 1)Even though I enjoyed Backdraft, I wasn't really interested in seeing Backdraft Part II 2) John Travolta sometimes makes movies that really, really suck. But I am happy to say that Ladder 49 was quite a good movie. The film stars Joaquin Phoenix as firefighter Jack Morrison. In the opening scene of the movie he becomes trapped in a burning building. As he waits to be rescued, he flashes back over his career and life as a Baltimore firefighter. We see Jack during his first days on the job as a single, nervous rookie that is almost reckless in his attempt to prove himself. As we follow his development as a firefighter, we see him change and mature as he becomes a father and husband...and he wonders whether his job is worth the risk of loss to his family. He realizes that it's not just about him anymore. The constant battle throughout the film is loyalty and responsibility to his "brothers" versus the loyalty and responsibility to his wife and kids.

The special effects are awesome but what really makes the movie shine is the relationship between all of the firemen at the station. We get to see how close they become to each other...out of necessity for their safety, but mainly because they form a bond of trust, earned as they risk their lives side by side. In the truest sense of the word, they are a family.

Travolta gives a quality performance as Captain Mike Kennedy. He doesn't overact like he seems to do in so many of his other movies. Phoenix gets more and more likeable with every role. He used to bother me, but now I actually look forward to seeing movies with him in it. Ladder 49 is a good film that will keep you engrossed the entire 2 hours. I recommend that you go see it.