BACKDRAFT

(May 1991, U.S.)

Having recently watched BACKDRAFT for this post, one question kept running through my mind..."What the hell ever happened to William Baldwin??" He was once a really big star. Now I couldn't name anything he's done for the last 15 years.

Ron Howard is one of my favorite directors of our time. But even he's not perfect. For as many hits as he's had, like SPLASH, APOLLO 13, CINDERELLA MAN and FROST/NIXON, he's had his share of misses, in my opinion, like GUNG HO, FAR AND AWAY (Oh man, that SUCKED!) and THE MISSING. BACKDRAFT was not only a big hit and one of the best summer blockbusters of 1991, but it glorified fire in a way that I didn't think could be done again since THE TOWERING INFERNO (1974). But whereas INFERNO was more people-oriented, BACKDRAFT really concentrates on fire and what makes it breathe, eat and hate. Basically, despite the all-star cast, it's fire that's the real star of the film.

On the "people side", the subplot of the ongoing fued between Chicago fire fighter brothers (Kurt Russell and William Baldwin) is intruiging to watch. Despite their differences and gripes, they manage to come together as loyal brothers when the shit comes down at the end. Before dying, the last thing Russell says to Baldwin is, "I was your brother." Aww.

The special effects and pyrotechnics used in BACKDRAFT are some of the best I've ever seen. There's a sequence toward the end of the film where Baldwin is running for his life on the roof of a burning building as the roof proceeds to collapse in back of him. It's particularly pleasing to know that this kind of spectacular effect was done with little-to-no computer work.

Favorite line of dialogue:

John 'Axe' Adcox: "I think it appropriate that we recognize the two asswipes... Probationary Firemen... among us today who were officially baptized into the world of Old Man Fire. First, to Tim. Despite the fact that he has a rather dull expression, and a really hideous pair of ears; he not only took on the beast but pulled from its clutches, assisted by a more famous and brilliant firefighter, me, a kicking and screaming civilian who will probably wind up suing us for breaking her fingernails. And to Brian...whose own contribution was not only more beautiful but less likely to sue. You know, when I learned that both McCaffrey brothers would be assigned at the same station together at the same time, my heart was filled with... a sudden desire to transfer. So raise a glass, gents. To funny-looking Tim, and the McCaffrey brothers, who have gotten on each other's nerves and still managed after all these years to still be pissed off at each other. Gentlemen..."
All: "FUCK YOU!"