Backdraft

BB

(out of 5)

Two brothers, complete opposites in every way, are reunited after having not seen each other for years. The elder (Kurt Russell) is a fire fighter like his father was before he died in a tragic accident. The younger brother (William Baldwin) has shifted between careers until finally deciding to become a fire fighter himself; having witnessed his father’s death was an obstacle up until this point. The clash of their personalities is the dramatic centre around which this entire drama surrounds itself, but of course this isn’t enough for Hollywood, so there’s a murder mystery thrown in the middle as well (the whole subplot stinks of studio executive interference). The effects work involving burning buildings and exploding houses is awe-inspiring, but it can’t hide the fact that the characters are all old cliches and the running time takes double the length it needs to tell a very simple story. Robert De Niro stands out impeccably as a burn victim who investigates arson, and is the key player in unraveling a series of murders.

USA, 1991

Directed by Ron Howard

Screenplay by Gregory Widen

Cinematography by Mikael Salomon

Produced by Pen Densham, John Watson

Music by Hans Zimmer

Production Design by Albert Brenner

Costume Design by Jodie Lynn Tillen

Film Editing by Daniel P. Hanley, Mike Hill

Cast Tags:  Andre Melchor, Andrew Lipschultz, Anthony C. Ellis Jr., Anthony Mockus Sr., Beep Iams, Bob Krzeminski, Bob Rice, Burton Stencel, Carlos Sanz, Cay DeVos, Cedric Young, Charles Burns Jr., Clint Howard, David A.C. Saunders, David Crosby, David Luckenbach, David Westgor,Dennis Liddiard, Don Herion, Don Rimgale, Donald Sutherland, F. Pat Burns, Fidel Moreno,Gregory Lundsgaard, Gretchen Erickson, Harry Hutchinson, Hollis Resnik,Ian A. Nevers, Ilene Kwitny, Irma P. Hall, J.T. Walsh, Jack McGee, James Ritz, Jane Alderman,Jane Jenkins, Jane MacIver, Jason Gedrick, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Joan Esposito, Joe Guastaferro, Juan Ramírez, Karel King, Kathryn Jaeck, Kelsey E. McMahon, Kevin Casey,Kevin Crowley, Kevin Petersen, Kurt Russell, Leslie A. Ford, Louise Woolf, Marcella DeTineo,Mark Wheeler, Michael Allen Mark, Mike Mangano, Neil J. Francis Jr., Nydia Rodriguez Terracina, Peter C. Hobert Jr., Razz Jenkins, Rebecca De Mornay, Richard Lexsee,Rick Reardon, Robert De Niro, Robert F. Byrnes, Robert Martell, Robert Swan, Ron West, Ryan Todd, Scott Baity, Scott Glenn, Thomas A. Senderak, Tim Grimm, Tony G. Chrisos, Tony Mockus Jr., W. Earl Brown, Walter Williams, Wanda Christine, William Baldwin, Zan Heber, Zita Visockis

Academy Award Nominations
Best Sound (Garry Summers, Randy Thom, Gary Rydstrom, Glenn Williams)
Best Sound Effects Editing (Gary Rydstrom, Richard Hymns)
Best Visual Effects (Mikael Salomon, Allen Hall, Clay Pinney, Scott Farrar)

British Academy Award Nomination
Best Special Visual Effects