Looking back on this movie, sorry, I agree with Scott Glenn's character Axe...when government corruption creates the window of opportunity to sacrifice lives to commerce, action must be taken. Standing in the way, is whiny, annoying Beta male William Baldwin who plays younger brother Brian McCarffrey to Kurt Russell's charge in firefighter Stephen McCaffrey.
The film is wonderfully directed by Ron Howard, withe exception of Baldwin. He's annoying. But this is a story of brothers and Kurt's Russell's chops make Baldwin look outmatched. Sort of works for the movie since, in the flick he is as well. But, much like "Top Gun" glamorized and recruited fighter pilots, I'm pretty sure this did well to recruit fireman.
Coming of age story, where the lead is nowhere as interesting as the side characters is what is really aggravating, and nearly sunk the firetruck. There are plenty of laughs and tears, but somehow falls really short. But this was passed off as fluff. Sad, since I can't imagine another film where Rebecca De Mornay deserved an Academy nomination for supporting. Or Hans Zimmer for that heart tugging score. Or Robert DeNiro for his performance as a fire inspector. You see how young man Baldwin is outmatched. But they also saddled him with a very underperformed Jennifer Jason Leigh, whose baby voice just doesn't do it. But again, a solid outing by director Ron Howard. And lenses like a cologne commercial by Mikael Salomon. Give credit where credit is due.
Coming of age story, where the lead is nowhere as interesting as the side characters is what is really aggravating, and nearly sunk the firetruck. There are plenty of laughs and tears, but somehow falls really short. But this was passed off as fluff. Sad, since I can't imagine another film where Rebecca De Mornay deserved an Academy nomination for supporting. Or Hans Zimmer for that heart tugging score. Or Robert DeNiro for his performance as a fire inspector. You see how young man Baldwin is outmatched. But they also saddled him with a very underperformed Jennifer Jason Leigh, whose baby voice just doesn't do it. But again, a solid outing by director Ron Howard. And lenses like a cologne commercial by Mikael Salomon. Give credit where credit is due.