Movie Review: Ladder 49
By Amanda Belz & Deanna De La Cruz
Ladder 49 is a story that
follows the life of firefighter Jack Morrison, played by Joaquin
Phoenix, from his first day on the job to when he matures into
a well-trained firefighter.
The movie starts out with a large manufacturing building ablaze,
with many firefighter units from around Baltimore desperately
trying to put out the fire. Jack’s team is responsible for
pulling out survivors, so he and a few of his fellow firefighters
enter the building and walk up several flights of stairs while
the floors around them are on fire. During the search for survivors,
Jack gets separated from the other firefighters as falling debris
on fire block his exit path. As he searches the floor, he finds
a survivor and daringly ties a rope around him and lowers him
down the side of the building to safety.
Just after he rescues the worker, a large explosion occurs, causing
the floor to give way and causing Jack Morrison to fall a couple
of floors into a pile of rubble. Lying there, his life flashes
before his eyes, with different scenes starting with his first
day on the job, to meeting his wife, to the birth of his daughter,
and the death and tragedies of fellow firefighters that occur
on the job. During the flashbacks, his fellow firefighters, including
his captain, played by John Travolta, outside of the building
devise a plan to rescue him even though attempt to do so seems
futile.
Ladder 49 is packed full of
action as firefighters rush in to save the day, no matter how
big or dangerous the fire. It is an emotional story that tries
to give a real perspective on the lives of firefighters, and how,
sometimes situations do not always have happy endings. It is a
moving story that shows how firefighters are normal people who
do extraordinary things. After watching the movie, it instilled
a new appreciation for firefighters and shows exactly how heroic
they are for putting their lives on the line, no matter how detrimental
it may be to their own safety.
