BACKDRAFT
US, 1991, 135 minutes, Colour.
Kurt Russell, William Baldwin, Robert de Niro, Donald Sutherland, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Scott Glenn, Rebecca de Mornay.
Directed by Ron Howard.
Backdraft is an ambitious spectacular movie about firefighters in Chicago. Main tributes should go to Allen Hall, the director of special effects and pyrotechnics. The most spectacular fire scenes on screen are to be found in Backdraft.
It's a pity that the plot is not so worthy of the special effects. It is fairly conventional, the clash between two brothers, police and arson investigations, political corruption.
The film has a strong cast with Kurt Russell as the surly older brother and William Baldwin as the hero. However, it is Robert de Niro as a fire investigator who gives the most persuasive performance, Donald Sutherland has a good role as an insane arsonist. J.T. Walsh is persuasive as the corrupt politician. This is a very macho world, the camaraderie of the firefighters, their way of relaxing and recreating - women on the periphery.
The film was directed by Ron Howard, who has shown versatility in his movies from Nightshift and Splash to Cocoon, Willow and Parenthood, Apollo 13 and Ransom, Ed TV and A Beautiful Mind.
1.Impact of the film? Cinema spectacle and special effects? The impact of firefighters' work?
2.The title, the explanations, the special effects and stunt work? The editing and the dramatic impact of fire? Fire with a life of its own, like an animal?
3.The Chicago tradition and fire, the 19th century fire, the fire department? Its ethos and style? Importance of government and funding?
4.The prologue, Brian and his father, going to fight the fire, the clash with Stephen? His father's heroics? The pride of the boy? The explosion and his father's death? John Adcocks and his help? The photo in Life Magazine?
5.Brian grown up, his graduation, friendship with the group, especially Tim? Celebrations? His drifting life, plans? The first fire, with Stephen, going by himself, rescuing the mannequin? The clashes with Stephen? The speeches and the jokes about his rescue? The newspaper with the wrong information and the politicians' use of it? Going to see Helen and his nephew, the truth about the break-up, seeing Stephen on the boat? The meeting with Jennifer, her grandmother's attack? Policy and the city? The training and the clashes with Stephen, the collage of firefighting work? With Stephen, the rescue of the baby - and his thinking he had died? The offer of the job with the investigator, turning it down, clash with his brother and accepting the job? The treatment by the investigator, going with him to see Ronald, Ronald and the probation hearing, the investigator knowing the truth? The fires, the society party, going to the politician's house and the investigator's injury? With Jennifer, at the fire department, on the truck? His going to investigate the cause of the fires, interviewing Ronald, suspicions of Stephen? Confronting him? The final fire, the heroics, the fight, the rescue? His not wanting Stephen to die? The funeral? His future? Jennifer and her friendship, love - and giving him the documents?
6.Stephen as tough, as a young boy clashing with his brother, hard, best, a lieutenant, seeing him in action? Training? The tension between the two brothers, at the fire station, the boat? Heroism and rescuing the child? The clash with the politician? Going to see Helen, drinking and the fight at the social? His returning to the home, Helen comforting him? Her taking a stand especially about their son? Tim's injury? His confusion? Lack of confidence? His brother suspicious of him? Final fire, his knowing the truth, fighting it, the clash with Adcocks, the injuries, his death?
7.Adcocks, his life in fighting fires, friendship with the boys' father? A good man, making the speeches, diligent at his work? The episode with Tim's injury? The discovery of the truth? The confrontation in the fire, his motivation - for the fire department, his death?
8.Tim and the gung-ho young man, enthusiastic about firefighting, careless, his injuries?
9.Robert de Niro as the investigator, tough, his work and investigations, clash with the politician? His staff and his sternness? His burnt back? At the fires, taking on Brian, going to see Ronald, the discussion about fires? The probation hearing - and his interview and proving that Ronald was mad? Going to the fires,a his skill at working out how the fires were set, the chemicals, the backdraft? At the politician's home, the blast and his being hurt? His tribute at the end?
10.Ronald, the mad arsonist, the dramatisation of the madness, the fascination with fire, burning people and the world? His interview with Brian, the suspicions, the photo, the fire as an animal with a life of its own?
11.The politician, the background of the deals, the men who were killed in the backdraft fires? His toughness with budgets, Jennifer as his assistant? His despair, her taking the files, the press conference and his arrest?
12.Helen, devoted wife, separating from her husband, not being able to life with the risks? The humiliation at the party? The comforting of Stephen but asking him to go? Grief at the funeral?
13.The ethos of the firefighters, the Chicago Irish tradition, the dramatising of the Irish - at the retirement party?
14.The tough hard work, discipline, physical stamina? Shrewdness and intelligence? The macho world - and women on the periphery? The role of the firefighting departments in the cities?
