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Topic: Review: 'Ladder 49' a dull tribute (Read 441 times)

Rhune
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Review: 'Ladder 49' a dull tribute
« on: Oct 1^st, 2004, 7:54pm »

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Review: 'Ladder 49' a dull tribute
By David Germain
Associated Press
Friday, October 1, 2004 Posted: 2:57 PM EDT (1857 GMT)

(AP) -- "Ladder 49" poses the question: What makes firefighters run into burning buildings when everyone else is running out?

Unfortunately, "Ladder 49" could have a similar effect: Firefighters may rush into theaters to catch it, while everyone else flees this well-intentioned but deadly dull dramatic tribute.

Director Jay Russell ("My Dog Skip," "Tuck Everlasting"), producer Casey Silver and screenwriter Lewis Colick have cobbled together narrative snippets -- some engaging, most inert -- into a mushy, cliched valentine to the men who live the firefighting life.

An understated performance by Joaquin Phoenix elevates "Ladder 49" to a degree, bringing an air of unsung heroism to the central character, though co-star John Travolta cannot quite rein in his predilection for flash and flourish.

"Ladder 49" presents good, brave men going about vital but dangerous labors most of us would not have the guts to take on. And in light of renewed sympathy and admiration for dauntless rescuers such as those who died in the September 11 attacks, it's that much tougher to knock a movie made in their honor.

Yet "Ladder 49" has no smoke and no fire. The movie plods along amiably but predictably, hitting all the expected buttons and not much else. The firefighter wedding, the firefighter funeral, the firefighter in the burn unit, the firefighter pranks. The hand-wringing of the firefighter wife.

None of it cuts very deeply, and little of the action musters much tension or drama.

The lackluster characters and story squander a promising plot structure in which the career of veteran Baltimore fireman Jack Morrison (Phoenix) plays out in flashbacks while he is trapped in a burning grain-elevator building.

"Ladder 49" flits from the present as his mentor and former captain, Fire Chief Mike Kennedy (Travolta), directs a rescue effort, to Jack's first day on the job, his triumphant first fire, his courtship, marriage and family life with Linda (Jacinda Barrett) and their two children.

There are moments of warmth and humor as the filmmakers occasionally capture an authentic sense of camaraderie among Mike, Jack and their firehouse partners, whose core members are ably played by Robert Patrick, Morris Chestnut, Balthazar Getty and Billy Burke.

The dramatic highpoints -- when danger and tragedy strike the men or the perils of the job strain Jack and Linda's relationship -- fall flat, though.

In striving to depict everyday guys, Russell and company may have succeeded too well. Like the people we see in everyday life, they're pretty boring.

The images of flame and smoke, largely created through controlled burns as opposed to computer animation, are fierce and frightening at times, though like the people on screen, the fires wear thin the more you see of them.

Winding its way toward a maudlin closing montage, "Ladder 49" eventually becomes as hypnotically stupefying as sitting on a wet log with nothing to do but stare into a crackling campfire for two hours, wishing you had some marshmallows.

"Ladder 49," released by Disney's Touchstone Pictures, is rated PG-13 for intense fire and rescue situations and for language.

------------------------------------------------------------------------ --------

Copyright 2004 The Associated Press.

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AoM
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Re: Review: 'Ladder 49' a dull tribute
« Reply #1 on: Oct 3^rd, 2004, 2:29pm »

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I didn't find this movie dull at all, but this is the second review that said otherwise... Sad

It kept my interest quite well....didn't look at the time once...Good movie

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luci
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Re: Review: 'Ladder 49' a dull tribute
« Reply #2 on: Mar 25^th, 2005, 4:39pm »

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We watched this one last night[well one of us slept throough most of it Roll Eyes

]
It was interesting but so sad. I do understand now what danger firemen experience.
They don't just stand outside with a big waterhose.

True Heros, :fireman:

FIREMEN

« Last Edit: Mar 25^th, 2005, 4:40pm by luci »

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Rupey
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Re: Review: 'Ladder 49' a dull tribute
« Reply #3 on: Mar 26^th, 2005, 1:09pm »

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We watched the DVD today. My DH cried and I yawned. I do appreciate our public servants and the danger they place their lives in each day. This movie, however, just didn't do it for me.

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amazingracelover
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Re: Review: 'Ladder 49' a dull tribute
« Reply #4 on: Mar 26^th, 2005, 4:40pm »

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Ladder 49 is a story of a firemen in a city.

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luci
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Re: Review: 'Ladder 49' a dull tribute
« Reply #5 on: Mar 26^th, 2005, 6:39pm »

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We know what it's about as we all have seen it. It just isn't as good
as "Inferno" or some of the other movies made about firemen.

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Colleen
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Re: Review: 'Ladder 49' a dull tribute
« Reply #6 on: Apr 10^th, 2005, 11:00pm »

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My b/f and I loved this movie. I thought it was very well done. Very sad! I just havent gotten around to it, but I will be buying this movie for sure. Loved the actors and the story line.

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AoM
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Re: Review: 'Ladder 49' a dull tribute
« Reply #7 on: Apr 11^th, 2005, 7:19am »

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(it's hard to discuss this without spoiling plot points isn't it!)

I thought there was plenty of action. I have the attention span of a fruit fly, but it kept me interested. Not the best movie i have ever seen, but....

I haven't seen Inferno, or any other fireman movie for that matter. I guess I will have to check those out for a good comparison huh?

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