Ladder 49

Name: Ladder 49
Genre: Action, Drama, Thriller
Released: October 1, 2004
Duration: 115 min
Rating: 47
Cast: Jacinda Barrett, Joaquin Phoenix, John Travolta

2004

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 32 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 49 Ratings

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7.7

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7.7	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 49 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Buena Vista Pictures | Release Date: October 1, 2004 | PG-13

Starring: Jacinda Barrett, Joaquin Phoenix, John Travolta

Summary: When a firefighter (Phoenix) is trapped in the worst blaze of his career, his life and the things he holds important -- family, dignity, courage -- come into focus. As his fellow firemen of Ladder 49 do all they can to rescue him, Jack's life hangs in the balance. (Touchstone Pictures/Beacon Pictures)

Director: Jay Russell

Genre(s): Action, Drama, Thriller

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 115 min

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Critic Reviews

Roger Ebert

Because it is attentive to these human elements, Ladder 49 draws from the action scenes instead of depending on them. Phoenix, Travolta, Barrett and the others are given characters with dimension, so that what happens depends on their decisions, not on the plot. Read full review

Chris Kaltenbach

Celebrates heroes without turning them into saints. Read full review

Kirk Honeycutt

The film is less of a drama than a tribute -- an ode, even -- to the spirit and tenacity of firefighters. Its makers hardly bother to explore the lives or motives behind their actions. Read full review

Mick LaSalle

Plays like a war movie made in a time of war: too careful, too programmatic. Read full review

Carina Chocano

As a loving tribute to the courage and sacrifice of firefighters, it's first-class. As a movie, it's a TV show. Read full review

J.R. Jones

This drama about Baltimore firefighters makes a serious effort to honor the sacrifices of professional rescue workers, but blasts of hokum keep threatening to collapse the building. Read full review

Manohla Dargis

What makes this nonsense more galling than usual is that while Ladder 49 might have started out as a heartfelt attempt to honor those in the line of literal fire, it weighs in as an attempt to exploit their post-Sept. 11 symbolism. Read full review

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User Reviews

Alex6

Oct 16, 2010

Although hardly publicised and fairly predictable, it is a film which you really get into. I'd never heard of it when I began watching it; but thoroughly enjoyable. But sad.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

DaveF

Sep 8, 2005

Predictable and shallow as it goes through the motions of the Hollywood tearjerker. That said, it's still a lot of fun to watch--and might even knock some sense into the college kid who likes to pull his dorm's fire alarm.

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PatC.

May 3, 2006

Shamelessly hokey Hollywood Formula 49 piece. An homage to firefighters without the annoyance of allowing the viewer to experience an original thought. The content rings true, but the presentation does not. Despite an obtuse presentation its point is made. The fact that the movie is about Shamelessly hokey Hollywood Formula 49 piece. An homage to firefighters without the annoyance of allowing the viewer to experience an original thought. The content rings true, but the presentation does not. Despite an obtuse presentation its point is made. The fact that the movie is about those who charge into what others are fleeing is not negated by the techniques and motives of the filmmaker.… Expand

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Compi24

Apr 23, 2020

Firefighting is inherently admirable and worthy of the Hollywood treatment. In fact, we probably need more movies delineating just how difficult and courageous of a profession it is. But in the words of Switch from "The Matrix," "not like this. . .not like this." "Ladder 49" is as plain andFirefighting is inherently admirable and worthy of the Hollywood treatment. In fact, we probably need more movies delineating just how difficult and courageous of a profession it is. But in the words of Switch from "The Matrix," "not like this. . .not like this." "Ladder 49" is as plain and bland it gets, just eking by with its competent look and feel, tricking you into following through with an experience that's so empty and hokey overall, you can't help but guess the year it came out correctly every time. Wadded together with characters, scenes and even lines you've seen before (there's a character that straight up says, "I'm getting too old for this **** multiple times, as if no cinemagoer's heard the line from Lethal Weapon parodied a thousand times over already) it has to be one of the clearest examples of a movie I've seen in quite a while that I'd advise you put on if you just want to "tune out." There's even a relatively ballsy -- considering the kinds of narratives that were popular at the time -- ending that's completely undone by one of the cheesiest songs I've ever heard written for and placed into a film. I wish I could give Joaquin a mulligan on this one, but it's just so cringe-inducing. Please, watch "Backdraft" instead of this.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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