Ladder 49 (2.5 out of 4)

Starring Joaquin Phoenix and John Travolta. Directed by Jay Russell

Jay Russell's obviously inspired September 11 ode, Ladder 49, is clunky and earnest in execution. Making a film that glorifies firefighters is certainly honourable, but the structure is old-fashioned and unconvincing with very little attention given to character development.
Jack Morrison (Joaquin Phoenix) is a firefighter trapped in a 20-storey fire where he just saved a man. Waiting for his co-workers to rescue him, he thinks back to his life and career. Through flashbacks he starts work as a rookie at Fire Station 33 where the guys, lead by Captain Kennedy (John Travolta) play a practical joke on him. He then falls in love with Linda (Jacinda Barrett) whom he marries and has two kids. Throughout the 10 years worth of flashbacks, he also witnesses several work-related tragedies, including a death and a terrible burning.
For a movie about fire, and there are a plenty of fire scenes, the sequences are not very compelling or exciting. And though we have tons of personal material regarding Morrison, we know so little about him except his dedication to the job. Both terrific Phoenix and Travolta are wasted here.

Publication Date: 2004-10-10
Story Location: http://tandemnews.com/viewstory.php?storyid=4489