LADDER 49

Director: Jay Russell (My Dog Skip, Tuck Everlasting, End of the Line)
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, John Travolta, Jacinda Barrett, more

An almost sickeningly sweet homage to your local fireman, Ladder 49 manages to pull off its syrupy message due to some quality acting. Joaquin Phoenix does an excellent job portraying a nice, dumb guy who puts out fires, and saves people, and then dies. The movie simply had a bad plot, and it could have been nauseating to watch: While Joaquin is trapped in a fire (soon to die), we watch a montage of all of the sweet, sappy moments in his fire-fighting life. It's strange that the birth of his children doesn't flash before his eyes when he's facing certain death, but that drinking with his fire buddies does. However, I suppose it can be excused since the writers did need to force some sort of a structured plot on his flashbacks. Yes, this is sappy. From another viewpoint, though, it's also pretty entertaining. Fires are just cool, there's no way around it. A pretty bad script, but some fine acting and engaging action equals a solid Hollywood picture.

Standouts: Sweet story.
Blowouts: Overly sweet story.

Grade: B-