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 MPEG-4 transfer is nothing short of brilliant. As one might imagine, there are plenty of shots that consist of smoky, dark rooms but the transfer holds up perfectly. I didn’t see any evidence of artifacting in the least and though some of the shots seem a bit dark, it’s understandable considering the subject matter. 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. Disney is doing a fine job with their Blu-ray efforts and “Ladder 49” is no exception.
Audio: How does it sound?
Sound. You want sound? The PCM Uncompressed track is one of the best examples of surround sound that I’ve ever heard. 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?
As far as supplements go, the original extras from the standard DVD have all been ported over. 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. There’s the obligatory “The Making of Ladder 49″ which contains three different parts: On Location, Fire Academy: Training the Actors and Anatomy of a Scene”. A good segment is “Everyday Heroes” in which 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. Five deleted scenes are also included, without commentary. A music video is also included as is the Movie Showcase, showing some of the best audio and video from the movie.
