- Film Review
- Reviewed By John Ferguson
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4 out of 5
Director Ron Howard has become one of the most accomplished of Hollywood craftsmen, and this sturdy star-studded action drama was deservedly a mainstream hit. Kurt Russell and William Baldwin play the warring, firefighting brothers who have to cope with a rash of blazes started by a seemingly deranged arsonist, whose lethal "backdrafts" are resulting in death and destruction. The plot is hardly original, but Howard marshals the sprawling elements with great finesse and the fire footage, if harrowing at times, is genuinely exhilarating. The list of stars is never-ending: supporting the two leads are Jennifer Jason Leigh, Robert De Niro, Donald Sutherland, Rebecca De Mornay and JT Walsh.
Plot Summary
Gritty action drama starring Kurt Russell, William Baldwin and Robert De Niro. Twenty years after witnessing his firefighter father's death, shiftless Brian McCaffrey finally follows family tradition and joins the Chicago department. Brian finds he has a lot to learn, and to prove, especially when he's assigned to help arson investigator Donald Rimgale, who believes a recent series of fires in the city were started deliberately.
Cast and crew
Cast
- Stephen McCaffrey
- Kurt Russell
- Brian McCaffrey
- William Baldwin
- Donald Rimgale
- Robert De Niro
- Jennifer Vaitkus
- Jennifer Jason Leigh
- Ronald Bartel
- Donald Sutherland
- John Adcox
- Scott Glenn
- Helen McCaffrey
- Rebecca De Mornay
- Martin Swayzak
- JT Walsh
- Tim Krizminski
- Jason Gedrick
Crew
- Director
- Ron Howard
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