Backdraft

Plot

20 years after the death of their firefighter father in the line of duty – two brothers; one a dedicated firefighter just like his father and the other always trying to find is footing in life – has decided to join big brothers’ unit. A new firebug is also causing the deaths of high-ranking citizens, but what is their connection?

Direction

There is some very good direction from Ron Howard, who almost always seems to hit the nail on the head. The action and suspense sequences are brilliant, and especially as this predates computer graphics.

Cast/Characters

William Baldwin plays Brian, the long-departed brother – who now wants to honour his fathers’ legacy and become one too. I found his performance quite wooden, and he struggled with some of the more dramatic moments in the film.

Kurt Russell plays the ‘lead’ role of Stephen (and also the dad in the very early moments of the film), and department Lt.

I thought him playing the dad was a little bit silly, as straight after he is playing the older brother – but Russell’s 12-year age gap between Baldwin is hard not to notice. If you’re not paying attention in the first minute, you might be mistaken for thinking it’s the same character.

Secondary cast include; Robert DeNiro as an investigator who is trying to uncover the ‘bugs’ modus operandi, Scott Glen one of Stephen’s top team members, Donald Sutherland as a creepy ‘Hannibal Lecter’ type firebug in jail trying to get released, the late JT Walsh playing his usual antagonist who is trying to cut funds from firehouses, and Jennifer Jason Leigh – as an old flame of Brian’s (and also delivering a wooden performance.)

Screenplay/Setting/Themes

The tension and animosity between the brothers is done well, and felt organic.

There are the usual cliché “slow-motion” action sequences, and ‘training’ montage that are a little weaker in comparison to some other 90s films. It felt like it should be more in a film for the previous decade.

The revelation of the antagonist and the ‘motive’ is a little on the nose – and the resolution for DeNiro feels a little underdone.

There is a ‘red herring’ of who the killer is in the start of the third act that only lasts a few minutes it would have been more dramatic if this played out longer

Overall

Sound early 90s action yarn, does well with the drama between characters, but falls down in the third act with a disappointing ‘killer’ reveal and motive.

Some of the best fire action scenes I’ve seen, and done well.

3.5/5