Movie Description
Two of John Travolta's biggest hits--LADDER 49 and PHENOMENON--are collected together here.
LADDER 49: Joaquin Phoenix is great in this saga of Baltimore firefighter Jack Morrison, whose life starts flashing before his eyes when he becomes trapped in a blazing high rise. Flashbacks chronicle his memories of being a rookie at his Baltimore fire company. He remembers fighting his first fire, bonding with fellow firefighters, falling in love with a beautiful local girl (Jacinda Barrett), getting married, and having children. He also looks back on forming a close relationship with the fire chief (John Travolta) and learning to face the danger and heroics of life on the job. This film manages to wring plenty of well-earned tears from its subject matter--as well as spine-tingling thrills--which are the result of solid performances, characterization, and good naturalistic dialogue from screenwriter Lewis Colick. Barrett is great as Jack's worried wife; she and Phoenix exhibit strong, earthy chemistry in their scenes together. Travolta makes a fine fire captain who is graceful, sure of himself, and always ready to give up the spotlight to the younger actors. Other firemen include Morris Chestnut, Balthazar Getty, and Robert Patrick. The addition of a soundtrack of contemporary Irish and Irish-American folk and rock keeps the melancholia just a whisper away. The heroics of 9/11 are subtly honored here, but never directly mentioned, which is to the film's credit.
PHENOMENON: A simple, small-town garage mechanic suddenly develops extraordinary intelligence--including telekinetic powers and an unquenchable thirst for knowledge--which affects his life in unexpected ways. The government wants to investigate him, scientists want to study him, and the townspeople become afraid of him, to the point of ostracism. With the love and support of a young single mother, he is finally able to accept his lot in life.
| Credits | | Cast: | Ashley Buccille, Balthazar Getty, Billy Burke, Brent Spiner, Bruce A. Young, David Gallagher, Forest Whitaker, Jacinda Barrett, Jay Hernandez, Jeffrey Demunn, Joaquin Phoenix, John Travolta, Kyra Sedgwick, Morris Chestnut, Richard Kiley, Robert Duvall, Robert Patrick, Sean O'Bryan, Tim Guinee, Troy Evans, Vyto Ruginis |
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