Though it incorporates elements of action, drama, and love, at its heart, Ladder 49 is truly a story about life. The extensive flashbacks, which make up the bulk of the movie, color Jack's current condition with the events that led him there and the family life that awaits him at home. The opening sequence is intense and filled with action, as are many to follow. The result is a dialogue of sorts between the past and present, giving the viewer a unique and fuller perspective. As the film progresses, the setting alternates from these years gone by back to the ongoing attempt to find Jack and save his life. Just before he can get out himself, though, the building caves and he finds himself trapped at the bottom of the complex.įrom this vantage point, the film flashes back through Jack's memory to a time when he was just beginning as a fireman. Upon arriving, Jack learns that someone is trapped on the twelfth floor and rushes to the top of the building where he makes a successful rescue. On a day like any other, the firemen are called to the rescue of a burning highrise. (John Travolta) as a mentor and leader, as have the others on the squad. In the years since he first joined the team, Jack has come to look towards Captain Mike Kennedy Each day, he and his squad brave the perils of firefighting in order to save lives. I’d rather watch a travesty overflowing with warped personality like Battlefield Earth a dozen times than have to suffer through this nothing-burger of a movie a second time.Jack Morrison (Joaquin Phoenix) is part of a close brotherhood of firemen in an urban town. Ladder 49 isn’t bad so much as hopelessly dull. I’m not going to lie: I got a little choked up at the end of Ladder 49, a movie whose ostensible lack of cynicism struck me as fairly cynical. Phoenix is unmistakably the star here but Travolta gets his big moment to ACT when he delivers a eulogy for his late friend that doubles as a sincere valentine to the entire profession of fire-fighting. This mostly adequate basic cable fare relegates Travolta to a secondary role as the supportive and compassionate mentor. Then again Ladder 49 plucks shamelessly at the heartstrings in its final act and it’s a lot easier to get people choked up and teary about a handsome hero who dies way too young than a guy who almost dies. Ladder 49 struck me as so timid and bland that I was legitimately surprised that (SPOILER) our protagonist does not, in fact, survive, despite having seen and reviewed the movie during its theatrical release. In its superior second half Ladder 49 grapples forthrightly with the tricky reality that the heroism, courage and selflessness that makes Linda love and admire her hero husband are also the qualities that make it horrifyingly possible that he will die a fiery, awful death in the line of duty. The Academy Award winner is so utterly riveting playing tormented loners and losers who are profoundly fucked in the head-with the notable exception of his abysmal turn in Joker-that it seems perverse to cast him as a normal guy who just wants to be there for his wife and children and make a positive impact on society. Ladder 49 accomplishes the seemingly impossible feat of making Joaquin Phoenix boring. Even more than Phenomenon, this is some straight down the middle, VH-1, Dad Afternoon bullshit. Read previous entries in the column here, listen to the podcast here, pledge to the Travolta/Cage Patreon at this blessed web address and finally follow us on Twitter at įor John Travolta, the 2004 firefighter melodrama Ladder 49 was an uninspired choice but more than anything it’s a boring choice.
WHERE IS THE FIREHOUSE IN THE MOVIE LADDER 49 SERIES
The Travolta/Cage Project is an ambitious, years-long multi-media exploration of the fascinating, overlapping legacies of Face/Off stars John Travolta and Nicolas Cage with two components: this online column exploring the actor’s complete filmographies in chronological order and the Travolta/Cage podcast, where Clint Worthington, myself and a series of fascinating guests discuss the movies I write about here.