Phoenix does a phenomenal job with his role.  Although he’s not very friendly during interviews, he’s one of the best actors in the business.  His various transformations, from evil personified in the colossal flop, “Buffalo Soldier,” to shy suitor in “The Village,” to this role, are astonishing, and only serve to underscore the breadth of this actor’s abilities.  Travolta – who is a perfect gentleman with the media – seems slightly off kilter with his role, as if he’s not quite sure about playing second fiddle.  But he pulls it off, as do Morris Chestnut, Robert Patrick and Jacinda Barrett (as Jack’s wife), in standout performances.  Particularly moving is Chestnut’s scene where his character shares deep-rooted fears after being badly burned.

Another first with this film is the positive images of Christianity that remain unsullied by Hollywood’s usual negative clichés and stereotypes.  We see chaplains ministering to the men in their grief and priests performing weddings, baptisms and funerals.  And, although the men talk and drink hard, the profanity is kept to a minimum with no overt sexuality.  For the most part, these men are devoted husbands, fathers and friends who also happen to be everyday heroes.  They’re willing to sacrifice everything for others, and their families are no different.  Their choices and their pain are portrayed realistically, but in the end, it’s others who must come first.  What better example or metaphor could we see for true faith?

A good film for families of older children, this film left few eyes dry during the screening, so take a hankie – and someone you love.

OBJECTIONABLE CONTENT

• Drugs/Alcohol Content:   Lots of drinking in bars and restaurants; character drinks alcohol in early morning; characters have drinking contests and get drunk.
• Language/Profanity:  One f—word, a dozen or so mild obscenities and several profanities.
• Sexual Content/Nudity: Men, children shown in underwear and/or bare-chested; two references to character’s lack of virginity and one crude analogy to same; dating couple wake up in bed, having spent the night together (no nudity), but marry two scenes later.
• Violence:  Multiple shots of raging fires, smoke and conceptual dangers related to same along with firefighter responsibilities (breaking down doors, windows); several dramatic rescues involving high-risk situations; a character falls several stories and is injured, waiting for rescue; a character falls to his death in burning building; a character is burned by steam and is badly disfigured (face is shown very bloody, later referred to by child as “face melting off”).