Backdraft (1991)

 Backdraft (1991)

Backdraft is a technical tour de force that must be seen on the biggest and loudest screen possible to get most out of the pyro techniques. The best part is watching the visual and audio splendor of the raging fires that seemingly has a mind of its own. You have to put realism on the backside because not everything will be realistic…not unless you want every firefighter to die from smoke inhalation within seconds. As an action movie, the effects are incredible. They still hold up many years later. Fire is a beast not to be trifled with and even the very best may fall victim to the unpredictability of the flames. The action is serviceable, and the effects are outstanding, but they could have been served better with an adequate screenplay. Gregory Widen’s screenplay, to put quite bluntly, is not good. The characters are paper thin and the character’s dilemmas with each other is something that has been done thousands of times before, often better. Two brothers at odds with one another and both have failing relationships that need to be mended? Yeah, never seen that before. In terms of the villain, I was able to guess who the culprit from the beginning. Luckily, Ron Howard is a capable director, and the actual performances are solid to great.

 

Say what you will about the messy screenplay, but at least the film is fun. Howard is known to direct more complex films like Parenthood. Perhaps he needed to make a movie where hardly any brainpower was needed. Allen Hall coordinated a team with many stunt performers and visual effects artists to make us feel as if we were surrounded by this raging inferno. What is truly impressive is how it feels like the characters are in the middle of the fire, ready to be killed without a moment’s notice. Some trickery may be involved, but it’s certainly not noticeable here. Everything just looks too real. Apparently, many of the actors performed their own stunts. In reality, such swarming fires would be ready to kill people like Kurt Russell whose character is fearless and dives into these burning buildings without a rational thought. Still, that’s the name of the game. The fire scenes are breathtaking. In addition, Hans Zimmer created another killer score. He used Bruce Hornsby to invoke emotion. Yes, the show must go on!

 

The setting is in Chicago’s Engine Company No. 17. Stephen McCaffrey (Kurt Russell) is the older veteran who raised his kid brother, Brian (William Baldwin) after Brian watched his father die as a hero combating flames. Fresh out of the fire academy, Brian joins his brother’s company. Problem is, they hate each other. Stephen believes he is the true hero of the family. Stephen is also separated from his wife, Helen (Rebecca De Mornay) because he is too obsessed with his firefighter work. Brian’s former girlfriend Jennifer (Jennifer Jason Leigh) works for an alderman running for mayor. When these mysterious, deadly fires break out, Brian is assigned to work with the fire inspector, Donald Rimgale (Robert De Niro) to determine if these fires were works of arson. The McCaffrey brothers may not like each other, but they may realize the importance of family soon enough.

 

The performances are excellent. The actors do amazing to elevate a poor script. Russell and Baldwin have great chemistry with each other. I understood each man’s dilemma and what it meant for the older brother. I really liked Kurt Russell embodying the flames as if they were something harmless like water. It adds to the thrill. I wish Robert De Niro had more scenes. Same goes to Donald Sutherland who is important to the plot but only had two pivotal scenes. Then again, this movie is mostly a story about brotherhood. The entire arson plotline comes second.

 

There is no denying that Backdraft is a thrilling firefighter movie. The term “backdraft” means that the fire is so intense, it would immediately claim their victims. But the fire would be blown out in the process due to the sheer intensity of the initial blast. If you needed a reason to check out this Ron Howard movie, see it for the visual effects and the sound. Who gives a hoot about a bad screenplay when you can see a movie with such technical wizardry?

 

My Grade: B+