Under the watchful eye of his mentor, Captain Mike Kennedy, probationary firefighter Jack Morrison matures into a seasoned veteran at a Baltimore fire station. However, Jack has reached a crossroads as the sacrifices he's made have put him in harm's way innumerable times and significantly impacted his relationship with his wife and kids.
A serviceable testament to the firemen who would bravely risk their lives to protect the safety of others, etc., etc.
– Ben Kenigsberg,
Village Voice,
6 Oct 2004
fresh:
Ladder 49 might have been an oversized Hollywood dazzler. Phoenix keeps it firmly and modestly on a human scale.
– Stephanie Zacharek,
Salon.com,
1 Oct 2004
fresh:
Offers audiences a real rarity in theaters these days: a good, honest cry.
– Ann Hornaday,
Washington Post,
1 Oct 2004
rotten:
Even the best scenes feel canned, secondhand, packaged. We've seen this all before.
– Desson Thomson,
Washington Post,
1 Oct 2004
rotten:
The story of Jack Morrison (Joaquin Phoenix), a guy so emotionally uncomplicated and unquestioningly dedicated to rescuing people he might have been raised by Saint Bernards.