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Backdraft (1991)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writer (WGA):
Gregory Widen (written by)
Release Date:
24 May 1991 (USA)
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Tagline:
One breath of oxygen and it explodes in a deadly rage. more
Plot:
Two Chicago firefighter brothers who don't get along have to work together while a dangerous arsonist is on the loose. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Brothers
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Firefighter
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Fire
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Arson
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One Word Title
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Awards:
Nominated for 3 Oscars.
Another 1 win
&
3 nominations
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NewsDesk:
(13 articles)
What if William Baldwin Never Left 'Thelma & Louise'?
(From Cinematical. 28 September 2009, 2:15 PM, PDT)
Ron Howard Talks ‘The Strange Adventures of H.P. Lovecraft’
(From Screen Rant. 25 September 2009, 12:37 PM, PDT)
(From Cinematical. 28 September 2009, 2:15 PM, PDT)
Ron Howard Talks ‘The Strange Adventures of H.P. Lovecraft’
(From Screen Rant. 25 September 2009, 12:37 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
Good flick with mostly upside
more (108 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only) | Kurt Russell | ... | Stephen 'Bull' McCaffrey / Dennis McCaffrey |
 | William Baldwin | ... | Brian McCaffrey |
 | Robert De Niro | ... | Donald 'Shadow' Rimgale |
 | Donald Sutherland | ... | Ronald Bartel |
 | Jennifer Jason Leigh | ... | Jennifer Vaitkus |
 | Scott Glenn | ... | John 'Axe' Adcox |
 | Rebecca De Mornay | ... | Helen McCaffrey |
 | Jason Gedrick | ... | Tim Krizminski |
 | J.T. Walsh | ... | Alderman Marty Swayzak |
 | Anthony Mockus Sr. | ... | Chief John Fitzgerald (as Tony Mockus Sr.) |
| Cedric Young | ... | Grindle |
| Juan Ramírez | ... | Ray Santos |
| Kevin Casey | ... | Nightingale |
 | Jack McGee | ... | Schmidt |
| Mark Wheeler | ... | Pengelly |
Additional Details
MPAA:
Rated R for language and a scene of sensuality.
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
132 min | Canada:137 min (Ontario)
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
2.20 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby (35 mm prints) |
70 mm 6-Track (QSound) (70 mm prints)
Certification:
Portugal:M/12 |
South Korea:15 |
Argentina:13 |
Australia:M |
Chile:14 |
Finland:K-14 |
France:U |
Germany:16 (w) |
Iceland:14 (original rating) |
Iceland:16 (video rating) |
Singapore:PG |
Spain:13 |
Sweden:11 |
UK:15 |
USA:R |
Canada:14A
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Many of the extras in the film are actual Chicago firefighters. A casting call was put out in a Department memo prior to the start of shooting. In addition, many suburban firemen participated in the funeral procession.
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Goofs:
Continuity: The position of Brian's hands and arms when he is in the bar talking to the bartender right before Tim reads his station assignments. In one shot, they're holding the beer glass, in another shot, they're folded and in another shot, he's eating.
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Quotes:
Jennifer Vaitkus:
We believe you're holding back on us, to embarass the Alderman because of his fire department cutbacks.
Donald 'Shadow' Rimgale: Alderman, I have an uncomplicated job: To determine if a fire is arson or not, and if so, to catch the son of a bitch doing it. And if my investigative methods happen to muck up the campaign of certain mayor wannabes, I gotta tell ya... I'm not gonna go losing any sleep over it.
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Donald 'Shadow' Rimgale: Alderman, I have an uncomplicated job: To determine if a fire is arson or not, and if so, to catch the son of a bitch doing it. And if my investigative methods happen to muck up the campaign of certain mayor wannabes, I gotta tell ya... I'm not gonna go losing any sleep over it.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Andy Barker, P.I.: Pilot (#1.1)" (2007)
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Soundtrack:
Set Me In Motion
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FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (108 total)
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This is an exciting story of firefighting brothers who conduct their own search for a very proficient arsonist who is targeting a group of people. The reason they are targeted is obvious to any movie goer, but in real life would not be at all evident, so you sit back and watch people put clues together. The younger brother is the central and most likable character in the movie (by the process of elimination). It is very reminiscent of a Japanese kung fu movie in the story of the brothers. A lot of characters are very badly written in order to make points, but that's acceptable in film making if the point is important enough. Sutherland and De Niro play two of the badly written characters, and portray the stereotypes they play too often: Sutherland as a psycho, and DeNiro as a superman is on top of everything and probably never had to sneeze in his life. Both of these actors are much better than this, and it is disheartening to see them take on the same role every movie, especially when they have proved themselves to be excellent actors in their early movies (Sutherland in THE DIRTY DOZEN, De Niro in BRAZIL, THE MISSION, and ONCE UPON A TIME IN America). Here, they have the same one dimension they have in all their movies of that ten year or so span. If you can get past the fact that the writers are incapable of creating identifiable characters, this is a very exciting and fun film.