• A very talented cast (sans William Baldwin in lead), gorgeous set-pieces, and a strong early Hans Zimmer score carry this film into the archives despite a weak screenplay
  • 3 Oscar noms for effects
  • Could lose the “heat wave” song—brutally on the nose
  • On-location shooting in Chicago pays off with the set pieces
  • Almost like a war-film at time with Russell playing John Wayne- they even call their unit the “fighting 17th”—which makes William Baldwin more of a Montgomery Clift in From Here to Eternity introspective type
  • Russell steals the show (though Donald Sutherland chews the hell out of his two scenes and gives Russell a run for his money)- he is genuinely worried sick about his little brother, he’s very believable as a firefighter for sure
  • Awful training montage to the Bruce Hornsby song
  • Apparently Brad Pitt and William Baldwin basically switched roles here with Thelma and Louise– Baldwin won this over Pitt (among others) and dropped his role in Thelma (which went to Pitt)
  • Piercing blue eyes of Russell
  • Sutherland and De Niro are great together in their scene- they were co-stars together in 1900 (1976) from Bertolucci
  • Can’t help but think of Raoul Walsh, Cagney and White Heat which the big chemical plant gorgeous set piece finale—it’s just incredible photography and set piece set design
  • Recommend but not near the top 10 of 1991