Ladder 49

2004
12A
1h 55m

IMDb RATING

6.5/10

60K

YOUR RATING

John Travolta and Joaquin Phoenix in Ladder 49 (2004)

Play trailer2:31

6 Videos

70 Photos

Action Drama Thriller

A firefighter, injured and trapped in a burning building, has flashbacks of his life as he drifts in and out of consciousness. Meanwhile, fellow firefighters led by the Chief attempt to resc... Read allA firefighter, injured and trapped in a burning building, has flashbacks of his life as he drifts in and out of consciousness. Meanwhile, fellow firefighters led by the Chief attempt to rescue him.A firefighter, injured and trapped in a burning building, has flashbacks of his life as he drifts in and out of consciousness. Meanwhile, fellow firefighters led by the Chief attempt to rescue him.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.5/10

60K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 win & 7 nominations total

Videos6

Photos70

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
As part of a preparation for the movie, Joaquin Phoenix trained for a month at a fire academy and spent another month with the men of Baltimore's Truck 10. He became an "honorary member" and had the same tattoo as the men of the company, a bumble bee wearing a fire helmet with an axe.

Goofs
Much of the equipment (Big Ed flashlight, style of air-pack mask, etc) carried by Morrison (and other firefighters) in his "early years" as a firefighter was not available until more recent times (mid-'90s)

Quotes
Chief Kennedy: People are always asking me how is it that firefighters run into a burning building when everyone else is running out. Courage is the answer.

Connections
Edited into Underdog (2007)

Soundtracks
Shine Your Light
Written by Robbie Robertson
Mixed by Chris Lord-Alge
Produced by John Shanks and Robbie Robertson
Performed by Robbie Robertson

User reviews335

Featured review

Climbing, Climbing, Climbing........

A terrible blaze traps a firefighter (Joaquin Phoenix) in a Baltimore building. As his co-workers (led by chief John Travolta) try to figure out a way to help him escape, Phoenix thinks about the last 10 years of his life. Through those years of fighting fires he experienced triumph (meeting and marrying the love of his life, Jacinda Barrett) and also living through several tragedies (deaths and injuries to fellow firemen). "Ladder 49" is comparable to a legendary athlete, it is not always great but it is great when it has to be. The movie has many shortcomings. There are dead spots galore and watching firefighters getting drunk in wild bars and playing silly pranks on one another do not always put them in a favorable light. However, the film's final act is excellent as we learn what Phoenix's fate is. In many ways an homage to those brave individuals in New York who sacrificed all during the terrorist attacks of 9-11 and also a deceptively smart character study. Travolta is excellent and Phoenix is nearly as good. Members of the supporting cast all have their moments and by the end "Ladder 49" climbed high enough for me. 4 stars out of 5.