European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 29, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse Imagine film Kurt Russell left and William Baldwin play Brothers who fight fires a and each other a in the movie Bac draft Chuck Vinch staff write Ron mov iks Bac draft rated r a a wow must see wow Worth your time we passable entertainment w coming soon to a video outlet near you and you can wait its rare for a film outside the horror genre to have a non human Clement steal the show from the actors but that a just what happens with director Ron Howard a Golly gee homage to firefighters. The fire simply steals the show which is surprising when you consider the depth of the cast including Kurt Russell William Baldwin Jennifer Jason Leigh Rebecca Demornay Robert Deniro and Donald Sutherland. But Howard who has seemed sure of himself behind the camera in his other directing efforts a most notably parenthood a misuses All that Talent by becoming overawed with the blazes at the expense of the Story. To be fair the special effects ire awesome thanks to George Lucas Industrial Light amp magic shop. But the conflagrations on their own can to carry Gregory Widen s script which is stuffed with Macho cliches and awkward situations. And Howard in his eagerness to capture All the Power and glory of the flames either does no to notice or does no to care. The Basic plot has to do with the sibling rivalry of Veteran Chicago firefighter Russell and his Novice kid brother. Their firefighter father died 20 years ago a guess How a and they be been punching each other around Ever since. Later on Widen throws in a mystery Clement bringing on Deniro As an arson investigator trying to track loony firebug Sutherland who turns in another of his classic eyeball rolling performances. Along the Way there Are a number of thin subplots that never work up much momentum. Russell is married to but estranged from Demornay Over whom he is continually getting into bar fights. Baldwin gets hot and heavy with civic assistant Leigh a they have a love making scene on top of a coiled firehouse that looks far More uncomfortable than Erot in a and there Are also references to Leigh s Alderman Boss . Walsh who May or May not been involved in Shady goings on. And then there Sall the male bonding at House 17, the roughest toughest unit in Chi town or any other town. There a no doubt that this kind of posturing swagger is a real life Staple of firehouses across the country not to mention locker rooms construction Sites Pool Halls military units and police precincts. But Here it just gets out of hand. There a enough male bonding to make the fighter jocks in top gun Green with envy. When the gang Heads out to douse yet another scorcher Russell docs Knute Rockne As firefighter a show time let s take this Bleep head on a even Deniro while he docs his usual solid Job can to make much of some of his lines. A a it a a living thing Quot he tells Baldwin talking of the fire. A it breathes it eats. The Only Way to beat it is to think like it. You gotta love it a in another scene Sutherland plays Hannibal Lecter to baldwins agent Starling with this cryptic utterance a your father danced with the animal heh heh huh maybe if someone had Given Howard a couple of toy firetrucks when he was a wee lad we had have this Char broiled film foisted upon us. Bac draft definitely singes his heretofore burgeoning reputation As a director. It gets two stars mostly for the 1 he Cir in Aii dogs of to heavy rated g animated Bac draft rated r drama run Russell. Wii Ham Baldwin Scott Glenn Roc to in Nin. Don Aid Suthat Laius. Rebecca in Mot Nav. In Nisi Jason . Body parts rated r horror loll pah cd. T uni Duncan. John Walsh Kun Trio a Onfro of tha a Natios Kauai r drama. Tom Hanks. Mclatc Iii Lith. Rice Willis. City slickers Kauai k. Co Cdv Hills Crystal Daniel Stern Bruno Kuhn. Jaek in Lune Don t Tam mom Tho Babysitter s Doad rated comedy Christina Applegate. Joanna Cassidy. 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