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Movies / On DVD / Ladder 49
Ladder 49

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Ladder 49 (2004)

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Reviews Counted:153

Fresh:62

Rotten:91

Average Rating:5.4/10

Consensus: Instead of humanizing the firemen, the movie idolizes them, and thus renders them into cardboard characters.

Rated: PG-13 [See Full Rating] for intense fire and rescue situations, and for language

Runtime: 1 hr 55 mins

Genre: Action/Adventure

Theatrical Release:Oct 1, 2004 Wide

Box Office: $74,463,263

Synopsis: Joaquin Phoenix is great in this saga of Baltimore firefighter Jack Morrison, whose life starts flashing before his eyes when he becomes trapped in a blazing high rise. Flashbacks chronicle his... Joaquin Phoenix is great in this saga of Baltimore firefighter Jack Morrison, whose life starts flashing before his eyes when he becomes trapped in a blazing high rise. Flashbacks chronicle his memories of being a rookie at his Baltimore fire company. He remembers fighting his first fire, bonding with fellow firefighters, falling in love with a beautiful local girl (Jacinda Barrett), getting married, and having children. He also looks back on forming a close relationship with the fire chief (John Travolta) and learning to face the danger and heroics of life on the job. This film manages to wring plenty of well-earned tears from its subject matter--as well as spine-tingling thrills--which are the result of solid performances, characterization, and good naturalistic dialogue from screenwriter Lewis Colick. Barrett is great as Jack's worried wife; she and Phoenix exhibit strong, earthy chemistry in their scenes together. Travolta makes a fine fire captain who is graceful, sure of himself, and always ready to give up the spotlight to the younger actors. Other firemen include Morris Chestnut, Balthazar Getty, and Robert Patrick. The addition of a soundtrack of contemporary Irish and Irish-American folk and rock keeps the melancholia just a whisper away. The heroics of 9/11 are subtly honored here, but never directly mentioned, which is to the film's credit. [More]

Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, John Travolta, Morris Chestnut, Jacinda Barrett

Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, John Travolta, Morris Chestnut, Jacinda Barrett, Balthazar Getty, Robert Patrick, Jay Hernandez

Director: Jay Russell

Director: Jay Russell
Screenwriter: Lewis Colick
Producer: Casey Silver
Composer: William Ross
Studio: Buena Vista Pictures

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Release:

Feb 13, 2007

No Details Exist
 
 

Reviews for Ladder 49

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1 - 20 (sorted by date)
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N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Cinema Crazed | comment Comment
04/29/09
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
10/18/08
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
08/13/08
Brian Lowry
Brian Lowry
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A fairly routine firefighter drama, with burning-building sequences that more or less all look alike.

Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment Comment
09/24/07
Rob Gonsalves
Rob Gonsalves
eFilmCritic.com

It's slick and it honors firefighters as obviously as the first wave of WWII films paid tribute to America's fighting men and women.

Full Review Source: DVDTown.com | comment Comment
07/25/07
James Plath
James Plath
DVDTown.com

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Big Picture Big Sound | comment Comment
07/14/07
Joe Lozito
Joe Lozito
Big Picture Big Sound

A well-crafted tribute to the many dedicated firefighters who risk life and limb to make our world a little safer.

Full Review Source: Christianity Today | comment Comment
10/25/06
CT Staff
CT Staff
Christianity Today
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
06/24/06
Time Out

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
04/01/06
Empire Magazine
N/R

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Full Review Source: Sydney Morning Herald | comment Comment
01/17/06
Sydney Morning Herald

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Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
12/06/05
Film Threat

...has about the same amount of depth as an article from 'Boy’s Life.'

Full Review Source: www.kcactive.com | comment Comment
07/25/05
Uri Lessing
Uri Lessing
www.kcactive.com

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
06/18/05
Film Threat

Ladder 49 wants to honor firefighters for their courage and selflessness...yet at every turn [the film] undercuts itself.

Full Review Source: Reel Times: Reflections on Cinema | comment Comment
04/14/05
Mark Pfeiffer
Mark Pfeiffer
Reel Times: Reflections on Cinema

A moving tribute [to firefighters] and an excellent dramatic work.

Full Review Source: Reno Gazette-Journal | comment Comment
04/08/05
Forrest Hartman
Forrest Hartman
Reno Gazette-Journal

Heartfelt, predictable, and finally surprisingly poignant.

Full Review Source: Decent Films Guide | comment Comment
03/24/05
Steven D. Greydanus
Steven D. Greydanus
Decent Films Guide

Uma produção triste e – sim – uma bela homenagem aos combatentes do fogo.

Full Review Source: Cinema em Cena | comment Comment
01/28/05
Pablo Villaca
Pablo Villaca
Cinema em Cena

Ridiculous fabrications that, in no way, reflect real life.

Full Review Source: FilmFocus | comment Comment
01/24/05
Joe Utichi
Joe Utichi
FilmFocus

The film also criminally wastes latino heart-throb Jay Hernandez, to the point where you suspect that he had a sub-plot that ended up on the cutting room floor.

Full Review Source: ViewLondon | comment Comment
01/24/05
Matthew Turner
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: BBC | comment Comment
01/18/05
BBC
 
 
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