Firestorm could have had the potential to be an action blockbuster but it turned out to be a critical and commercial flop. Former NFL player Howie Long was earmarked to be the next action hero however his acting career turned out to be very shortlived as his new career move was not a success. Firestorm certainly did no favours for Howie Long.
Jesse Graves (Howie Long) is a smokejumper based in rural Wyoming who is one of several firefighters in a team that parachutes in the middle of forest fires to assist in containing the fire as well as search and rescue. His boss and mentor Wynt Perkins (Scott Glenn) has been sidelined and is no longer active in the field after he was seriously injured in the line of duty and is looking to Jesse to take over as boss.
Meanwhile, Wyoming federal prisoner Randall Shaye (William Forsythe) is planning a prison break during a forest fire where a number of convicts assist in firefighting relief. Shaye has $37 million stashed away in the Wyoming forest and wants to get his hands on it. Along with a number of convicts, the prison break is successful and the escapees manage to disguise themselves as Canadian firefighters who are assisting in containing the forest fire but are making their way to the stolen loot. Unfortunately birdwatcher Jennifer (Suzy Amis) crosses paths with the convicts and is taken hostage. Jesse discovers the convicts are disguised firefighters and sets out to stop them after they attempt to kill him and to save Jennifer. Shaye turns out to be dangerous and unpredictable as he turns on the convicts.
Howie Long was a champion defensive end in the NFL with a fantastic career playing for the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders over 13 seasons, winning the Super Bowl in 1984 and with 8 pro bowl selections. Unfortunately his acting career wasn't the most memorable. He was good as a henchman in Broken Arrow (1996) but his attempt to headline an action movie fizzled with Firestorm. Though his movie career ended with the mega flop 3000 Miles to Graceland (2001), he has done many commercials in the USA which are more entertaining. He has since become a well respected NFL commentator and a sports analyst.
Scott Glenn (can never do wrong), William Forsythe (always a great choice as a villain) and Suzy Amis (who retired from acting in 1999) did their best. Barry Pepper in an early role was fairly forgettable but has since gone on to bigger and better roles in Saving Private Ryan and Enemy of the State (both 1998) and The Green Mile (1999).
Academy Award winning Australian cinematographer Dean Semler who is well known for his work in many classics such as Mad Max 2 (1981), Dances With Wolves (1990) and Apocalypto (2006) tried his hand at directing but this would turn out to be very shortlived. Firestorm would be one of two movies that would wind up as flops. His second and last movie as a director would be the forgettable Steven Seagal action drama The Patriot (1998). Semler has returned to cinematography and still continues his career doing what he does best behind the camera.
Firestorm was forgettable nonsense. The stunts and special effects were worth checking out, but the rest of the movie and acting was below average. Firestorm extinguished Howie Long's acting career and this certainly didn't set the box office on fire as this turned out to be one of the biggest flops of 1998.
4/10.
Jesse Graves (Howie Long) is a smokejumper based in rural Wyoming who is one of several firefighters in a team that parachutes in the middle of forest fires to assist in containing the fire as well as search and rescue. His boss and mentor Wynt Perkins (Scott Glenn) has been sidelined and is no longer active in the field after he was seriously injured in the line of duty and is looking to Jesse to take over as boss.
Meanwhile, Wyoming federal prisoner Randall Shaye (William Forsythe) is planning a prison break during a forest fire where a number of convicts assist in firefighting relief. Shaye has $37 million stashed away in the Wyoming forest and wants to get his hands on it. Along with a number of convicts, the prison break is successful and the escapees manage to disguise themselves as Canadian firefighters who are assisting in containing the forest fire but are making their way to the stolen loot. Unfortunately birdwatcher Jennifer (Suzy Amis) crosses paths with the convicts and is taken hostage. Jesse discovers the convicts are disguised firefighters and sets out to stop them after they attempt to kill him and to save Jennifer. Shaye turns out to be dangerous and unpredictable as he turns on the convicts.
Howie Long was a champion defensive end in the NFL with a fantastic career playing for the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders over 13 seasons, winning the Super Bowl in 1984 and with 8 pro bowl selections. Unfortunately his acting career wasn't the most memorable. He was good as a henchman in Broken Arrow (1996) but his attempt to headline an action movie fizzled with Firestorm. Though his movie career ended with the mega flop 3000 Miles to Graceland (2001), he has done many commercials in the USA which are more entertaining. He has since become a well respected NFL commentator and a sports analyst.
Scott Glenn (can never do wrong), William Forsythe (always a great choice as a villain) and Suzy Amis (who retired from acting in 1999) did their best. Barry Pepper in an early role was fairly forgettable but has since gone on to bigger and better roles in Saving Private Ryan and Enemy of the State (both 1998) and The Green Mile (1999).
Academy Award winning Australian cinematographer Dean Semler who is well known for his work in many classics such as Mad Max 2 (1981), Dances With Wolves (1990) and Apocalypto (2006) tried his hand at directing but this would turn out to be very shortlived. Firestorm would be one of two movies that would wind up as flops. His second and last movie as a director would be the forgettable Steven Seagal action drama The Patriot (1998). Semler has returned to cinematography and still continues his career doing what he does best behind the camera.
Firestorm was forgettable nonsense. The stunts and special effects were worth checking out, but the rest of the movie and acting was below average. Firestorm extinguished Howie Long's acting career and this certainly didn't set the box office on fire as this turned out to be one of the biggest flops of 1998.
4/10.