Plot: What’s it about?
There are several professions that just don’t appeal to me and one of them is being a fireman. Ironically enough, I took some placement test back in high school and the number one profession for me was to be, you guessed it, a fireman. I have the utmost respect for these men and women, however. Anyone who’s willing to put their personal lives aside and rush into burning buildings is OK in my book. These people truly are heroes and they don’t do it for the money, that’s for sure. In the realm of firefighting movies, a few stand out as being good. Certainly Backdraft has to be up there and even John Wayne’s Hellfighters might make the cut. With Ladder 49 we have a different kind of firefighting movie, one that’s probably a lot more realistic and one that a lot of firemen can relate to. I mean, let’s face it, it’s not every job that physically endangers your life when you punch the clock.
The story is told in a roundabout way when we meet Jack Morrison (Joaquin Phoenix) as he’s running into a burning silo to save some stranded innocents. There’s an explosion, he’s hurt and he starts to reminisce about his life. The story is told in flashback form with only some intermittent scenes in the “present” to let us know what’s going on. We meet Jack and all of his future buddies and the tough but fair Captain (John Travolta). We also see how Jack met his wife, Linda (Jacinda Barrett) as they grow from dating to husband and wife and later into parents. The story is told over a ten year period and Linda faces what most wives of firefighters do: the dreaded day when the love of their life doesn’t come back home. Jack finds his job a calling and though Linda supports him, it’s straining their relationship. Still, the show must go on as we get to know the life of a firefighter.
I can’t really divulge too much more without giving away certain plot points, but I was pretty affected by this movie. Why? I don’t know. I don’t have that much in common with firefighters and I suppose the only parallel I could draw is that the movie takes place in Baltimore, which I’m a resident of – so maybe my attachment is a little more emotional than the standard viewer. Phoenix and Travolta turn in some decent performances, but hardly their best. A face that I haven’t really noticed that much is that of Jacinda Barrett, the former “Real World” cast member has made quite a name for herself and I’ll certainly be looking to more of her work in the future. The movie was critically panned, but did manage to do fairly well at the box office a few years back. Put it this way, you think you had a bad day on the job? Now imagine the life of a firefighter.
Video: How does it look?
The 1.85:1 AVC HD encode seems to be new from the original Blu-ray put out in 2006. If not, it still looks pretty good. Sony’s Blu-ray’s are among (and have been among) the best out there. I mean, they did originate the format. That said, the flesh tones seemed a bit on the oversaturated side, but I was considerably impressed by the detail – every pore on John Travolta’s face is clearly visible. The film is challenging with regard to how good an image can look in less than desirable situations.
Audio: How does it sound?
Sound. You want sound? The DTS HD Master Audio track is one of the best examples of surround sound that I’ve ever heard (the original Blu-ray had a PCM Uncompressed mix for anyone that’s curious). Fire is an amazing way to produce some very robust sound and the movie makes full use of it. The sub was humming away during some key sequences and it brings you closer to the action that you might believe. Dialogue is very consistent and strong with no signs of distortion. I also sampled the included Dolby Digital 5.1 track and there’s a noticeable difference between the two. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not night and day – but switching between the two there’s a noticeable difference. Crank this one up!
Supplements: What are the extras?
- Audio Commentary – First up is a commentary with director Jay Russell and editor Bud Smith. The two play well off each other and talk of the shoot and the obvious trouble with working around fire.
- The Making of Ladder 49 – A larger segment broken up into three different sections: On Location, Fire Academy: Training the Actors and Anatomy of a Scene with each representing different technical aspects of the production.
- Everyday Heroes – Several real-life Baltimore Firefighters are interviewed along with their families. The movie managed to portray these men in the correct light and, evidently it’s a very family-oriented business.
- Deleted Scenes – Five total, nothing adding anything too important to the film.
- Music Video – “Shine Your Light” by Robbie Robertson
The Bottom Line
Ladder 49 has been described as one of the most realistic films about the life of a firefighter. I remember seeing it when it first came out on disc and it was a treat to see it again. Sony’s disc offers the same supplements as when it originally came out, but it’s nevertheless a worthwhile addition to any collection.
