This drama about the trials and tribulations of an American firefighter was conceived in the aftermath of 11 September as a tribute to a profession hit heavily by the terrorist attacks. Joaquin Phoenix plays the raw recruit who earns his stripes under the auspices of father figure John Travolta and goes on to become a firehouse legend. His progress through life and the department is recounted in flashback as he lies trapped in a burning building, cut off from his colleagues. This oft-told and predictable story doesn't shy away from emotion - in fact it heads straight for it as if answering an alarm. Director Jay Russell has taken a male drama and made a melodrama that, though stirring at times, fails to live up to its laudable intention.

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.