Review of Backdraft (1991) by David F — 03 Apr 2010

Ron Howard does for Chicago firefighters what Tony Scott did for fighter pilots in 'Top Gun'. Dripping with macho camaraderie, this ambitious and spectacular melodrama is full of B-movie cliches - disillusioned veterans, gung-ho and reckless rookies - characterizations as subtle as a car wreck.

Kurt Russell sulks throughout the film as the leader of the squad, William Baldwin plays his brother, a guy who seems to have failed at everything who desperately wants to prove himself. The film focuses a lot on their bloviated adversarial posturing - the drama seems far too manufactured.

However, there is a great supporting cast, including Robert DeNiro, pretty much wasted in the role of a no-nonsense fire inspector, and Donald Sutherland, playing a psychotic arsonist in an over-the-top 'Hannibal Lecter' style.

But the real star is the incredible combination of photography and pyrotechnic effects - the firefighting sequences are truly impressive and frightening.