Arizona Republic from Phoenix, Arizona • Page 56

I rliliiy, Mny 24, 1991 The Arizona Republic 1)9 'Backdraft' captures the heat of big-city firefighters on the job MOVIE REVIEW Robert De Niro portrays an arson inspector investigating a series of fires in Backdraft. station-house camaraderie and the do-or-die sensation of fighting an enemy that cannot be reasoned with. The movie does lose its momentum briefly in the second half, but it comes roaring back to a dramatic conclusion at the scene ofa major fire. Russell and Baldwin are just right for their pans: athletic, arrogant, intense. De Niro is joined in an excellent supporting cast by Scott Glenn, as a veteran firefighter; Jennifer Jason Leigh, as Brian's old flame; and Donald Sutherland, ho creates a chilling portrait of a psychotic arsonist.

Backdraft is a serious drama, not just a summer-movie adventure, but it still should kick off the summer-film slate with a bang. Backdraft is rated for profanity and a little nudity and sex. Special effects, fine acting ignite explosive story ByBobFenster Th Arizona Republic They go into fires when everyone else is trying to get out. They work on the thin edge between heroism and fatal risk. They're big-city firefighters, and their story makes an explosive, emotional drama in Backdraft.

Although the movie is unrealistic in its depiction of fircfighting, it's a stunning piece of cinematic storytelling. Backdraft combines a rich, multi-layered story with amazing special the flames. Fire, as envisioned by director Ron Howard (I'arcnthmxl), is a living, breathing force of nature, a kind of modern dragon, as dangerous as any supervillain ever depicted on the screen. The special effects that create the fires arc spectacular. No other film has taken us so palpably inside the experience of firefighting.

Unless you've been in the middle ofa big fire, you've never seen anything like this. Backdraft is the kind of movie at which Hollywood excels one where technological wonders are used to enhance a solid story. To achieve this visceral effect, Howard sacrifices reality. The firemen risk their lives in unbelievable stunts. They go into chemical fires without breathing apparatus.

They stop in the effects to take us into the roaring flames of firefighters' lives. William Baldwin and Kurt Russell star as Brian and Stephen McCaffrey, battling brothers who work for the Chicago Fire Department. Stephen is the veteran, a unit leader renowned for his bravery, but a man who may be taking too many risks. Brian is his younger brother, a rookie who doubts he has the courage to live up to the standard set by his brother. Backdraft actually tells several stories at once: Brian's introduction to the smoke-eater's life, and his search for courage.

The conflict between Brian and Stephen, and the difficulties the job causes in their personal lives. An investigation by a veteran Backdraft Director: Ron I loward. Cost: William Baldwin, Kurt Russell, Robert De Niro. Rated R. Masterpiece 'VsV'SrtY'sV Terrific ifk'kir Good So-So Stinker arson inspector (Robert De Niro) into a bizarre series of torch jobs.

The conflict between firefighters and local politicians. But at the core of Backdraft are the scenes that take us inside the fires, as Brian, Stephen and the others risk their lives to save people and put out middle of burning buildings to discuss their lives. Although Howard makes these concessions to Hollywood's demand for patterned drama, he still holds on to the sense of excitement. Backdraft captures the emotional force of the firefighters' heroism, the h-omum utrreo por oatb of publication only" 6 PressLine. 271-5656 StereQ WHERt NOTED fT77nv i L834 Call anytime.

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