Backdraft (1991)

Most undeservingly overhyped movie of all time??

Beautiful, moving film.

The acting is good, and the firecracker script has some excellent ideas.

Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

Ron Howard's Backdraft is all you could want in a big budget Hollywood picture, and more in the sense that it combines a handful of genres for one big opus that's bursting at it's seams with family drama, romance, mystery, psychological thrills (of the deliciously heavy handed variety) and no shortage of shit blowing up. As far as firefighter films go, this is probably where the buck stops as far as I'm concerned. Stuff like Ladder 49 came and went without much lasting impression as I'm sure the Josh Brolin one from this year will too, but Backdraft man, it's an action classic that's endured and aged remarkably well over the years. It opens with a bang as a Chicago team thunders into action set to a score by Hans Zimmer that could wake the dead. This intro serves as a showcase moment for what's to come, as we meet two brothers who are fiercely competitive, each scarred by there fireman father's (Kurt Russell) untimely demise. The older (also Russell) is a headstrong bull with self destructive tendencies, while the younger (William Baldwin) does his best to live up to the family name by struggling through the academy. That's the framework for a story that's brimming with characters and subplots, as any Hollywood epic should be. Robert Deniro steals the show as a gruff, old school arson investigator who's seen a few deadly fires in his time, and keeps a close watch on psychopath firebug Donald Sutherland, who himself gives a thoroughly chilling performance. Scott Glenn is rough 'n tough as veteran fireman Axe, Jennifer Jason Leigh is Baldwin's flame in a role that's uncharacteristically safe for the daring actress, while Rebecca De Mornay is terrific as Russell's ex-wife. Ohh and J.T. Walsh steals every scene as a dubious politician. What a cast. The film is big, bold and noisy, with a visual and auditory aesthetic that will give any home theatre system a pounding. Zimmer's score is seriously awesome, a grandiose, emotional, booming concoction that stands as both one of his best and most underrated. This is one of the old fashioned, pure bangers of unbridled cinematic escapism that can't be beat, replicated or watched too many times.

"Backdraft" is a tedious and formulaic story from which to hang its top notch cast and still amazing special effects. Brothers, the children of a famous firefighter, feuding with each other over who the true heir to the man's name is. A corrupt bureaucrat running for mayor on a platform of cutting funding to the fire department. One of our characters a closet firebug. But who?The older of the brothers is separated from his wife - Rebecca De Mornay - because she loves him too much to see him put himself in danger all the time. The younger of the brothers has a girl - Jennifer Jason Leigh - who doesn't seem to mind being put on hold and messed around while he works out his personal garbage: changing careers constantly because he isn't ready to face up to the true calling the movie has mapped out for him. Can you guess what it is?I guess it is to the movie's credit that it doesn't dwell on this silly, prefabricated character arc any more than it needs to, but not so much to its credit that two great actresses like De Mornay and Leigh are given basically nothing to do but be there for the men. Did the producers cave in to the homophobia of the audience and assume that, if not for the presence of token females, people might assume that their leads are gay?The movie has not one, but two scenes where one person is dangling off the edge of a large drop and another is holding them by the hand, but the grip is slipping. It's nothing we haven't seen before, and the movie largely fails to raise any tension, but it does look pretty good.

This is one of Ron Howard's best movies, but it is viewed by many as one of his worst. The fact is, it is indeed one of his best. The characters are perhaps a bit simple, with simple perspectives, but this a movie about firemen. From Ron Howards perspective, these are simple people who risk their lives because they love the rush. But within this community there is one individual who starts fires for the rush. Who and why? That is the challenge for the viewer and the answer is the whole point of the movie. Most critics miss the point of the whole movie and think this is a movie about two brothers who don't get along and are in competition. Then the movie is indeed superficial and not all that interesting.Treat this movie as a mystery, and you will appreciate the plot. The acting is excellent, the music is superb and the scenes involving fire are unique and engrossing. Enjoy the movie for what it is. Don't complain about what it was never intended to be. Anyone who looks at this movie as Greek tragedy deserves to be disappointed. This is great entertainment.

Backdraft is really good, in a cheesy, unrealistic, hard to believe, still really good way. A Hollywood adaptation of firefighting that doesn't portray firefighting in completely believable light. In Backdraft, the way that these firemen fight the fire dead head on is really incredible to watch, even if it is unrealistic to a certain degree. I agree that these firefighters would probably be burnt up into a crisp within the first two minutes of the job. They're way too busy hanging out next to the fire not paying attention to it, not focusing on their gear or the task at hand, too busy smiling, posing for the camera, slicking back their hair in the hydrant water, busy racing each other carrying hoses up staircases, rescuing mannequins out of burning buildings, too busy picking fights at the company ball and lighting up cigarettes at the scene of the fire. I don't know if these guys are superfirefighters or supernitwits. But it all works well, and it's a real lovely film. Backdraft excels during the firefighter action sequences. The firefighting moments are about the best parts of Backdraft. They're really, really good. Ron Howard brings Backdraft to life, doing an excellent job directing the camera, especially during those firemen versus the blazes scenes. Robert De Niro is one of the great actors. When Robert De Niro's character appears in Backdraft, Backdraft turns up the heat and gets much better. I can easily say that De Niro's character is the single polished piece, while all the other characters are too one dimensional. Credit De Niro as well as the superior written character. The main character played by William Baldwin is really rather weak. Kurt Russell is a real likable hero as his character was much easier to get along with. Donald Sutherland as well as De Niro's character are both a step above in quality and in so they seem relatively out of place in their roles. Backdraft has really bad female characters. The firemen are playing grab ass with each other so much that it could have used some female dynamic, really. I'm all for a movie for the guys, and grab assing, but Backdraft misses the mark in that respect. Jennifer Jason Leigh is good in her poor part and Rebecca DeMornay is the closest thing to a significant female presence but not very close at all. Backdraft lacks good, insightful dialogue and has bad character development and interaction. Not much wrong with Backdraft, just a really good movie. Backdraft is a common man's classic. Backdraft is easily accommodatingly favorable to the audience. I feel how people can relate to Backdraft and really love it, especially firemen, and I'm there with them. Backdraft is the best fireman film. It's completely agreeable and an absolute success, a thumbs up, wait no, two thumbs way up! It has a good soundtrack to it, and the story really jumps off the screen with larger than life characters that heavily hit home.