FOOTBALL HUNK MAKES SIZZLING DEBUT IN SCORCHING `FIRESTORM'.Byline: Jane Sumner Dallas Morning News Former NFL NFL abbr. National Football League NFL (US) n abbr (= National Football League) → Fußball-Nationalliga defensive end Howie Long's first starring role is a scorcher scorch·er n. 1. One that scorches: an iron that was a scorcher. 2. Informal An extremely hot day. . ``Firestorm,'' about smoke jumpers who parachute into blazing forests to fight fires, may not be art, but it's fun. The action-adventure sizzles along like a lighted fuse. Big, strong Long, who serves as a pregame analyst on Fox's ``NFL Sunday,'' won't win any acting awards, but the affable hunk is appealing - like an old-fashioned serial hero. Oddly, he doesn't shoot a gun or use four-letter words. He does, however, toss a mean ax. The famed ex-Raider plays a smoke jumper who leaps into the eye of a forest inferno with mentor Scott Glenn Image:|thumb| Theodore Scott Glenn (born January 26, 1941) is an American actor known for appearing in supporting roles. His roles include Wes Hightower in Urban Cowboy (1980), astronaut Alan Shepard in The Right Stuff (1983), Commander Bart Mancuso in (``Courage Under Fire''). In the midst Adv. 1. in the midst - the middle or central part or point; "in the midst of the forest"; "could he walk out in the midst of his piece?" midmost of tornadoes of fire whipped up by howling winds, they discover that flames aren't their only foe on the ground. It seems that four inmates, including mass murderer mass murderer n. 1. A person, especially a political or military leader, who is responsible for the deaths of many individuals. 2. a. A person who kills several or numerous victims in a single incident. b. William Forsythe William Forsythe can be:
Yep, it's ``48 Hours'' meets ``Backdraft'' and ``Die Hard.'' Still, the impressive effects, photography, stunts and pacing of ``Firestorm'' make its familiar plot points seem almost fresh and crisp. Credit Dean Semler, the Oscar-winning cinematographer, in his directing debut, with keeping things moving. After directing photography on so many action films, including ``The Road Warrior'' and ``Dances With Wolves,'' he knows what keeps an audience amused. To replace himself behind the camera, he tapped fellow Aussie Stephen F. Windom, who's obviously at home with the director's hallmark expansive shots and framing. After ``Firestorm,'' Windom went on to direct photography on Kevin Costner's often-breathtaking, dead-letter epic, ``The Postman.'' Long broke into movies as psycho John Travolta's husky (if rather wooden) sidekick in John Woo's ``Broken Arrow.'' Here his broad shoulders tote the film. Glenn has little to do except limp, but Forsythe, as usual, makes a watchable watch·a·ble adj. 1. Capable of being watched; viewable: watchable wildlife. 2. Good enough to watch: "The fastest modem ... villain and Amis, currently seen doing double duty in Titanic, a feisty ornithologist. Writer Chris Soth got the idea for ``Firestorm'' after seeing acres of trees burned in the big fire that swept through Yellowstone National Park Yellowstone National Park, 2,219,791 acres (899,015 hectares), the world's first national park (est. 1872), NW Wyo., extending into Montana and Idaho. It lies mainly on a broad plateau in the Rocky Mts., on the Continental Divide, c. in 1988. Written for a screenwriting class at the University of Southern California's School of Cinema-Television, the script became his master's thesis. The film, shot near Vancouver, British Columbia, in fall 1996, had its share of problems, including an out-of-season snowstorm (it's supposed to be summer) and rain for more than half the shoot. In the ninth week, a Canadian stuntman stunt·man n. A man who substitutes for a performer in scenes requiring physical daring or involving physical risk. stuntman n → especialista m stuntman died when his chute failed to open after he jumped from a helicopter. A skydiving skydiving Sport of jumping from an airplane at a moderate altitude (e.g., 6,000 ft [1,800 m]) and executing various body maneuvers before pulling the rip cord of a parachute. Competitive events include jumping for style, landing with accuracy, and performing in teams (e.g. instructor with more than 3,000 jumps, Keith Perepelkin, 32, fell to his death near the base of Stawamus Chief, the largest granite monolith in North America. THE FACTS The film: ``Firestorm'' (R; dialogue, people menaced by fire may scare children). The stars: Howie Long, Scott Glenn, William Forsythe, Suzy Amis and Christianne Hirt. Behind the scenes: Directed by Dean Semler. Written by Chris Soth. Music by J. Peter Robinson. Produced by Joseph Loeb III, Matthew Weisman and Thomas M. Hammel. Released by 20th Century Fox. Running time: One hour, 29 minutes. Playing: Citywide. Our rating: Two and One Half Stars. CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: Scott Glenn plays a veteran smoke jumper in ``Firestorm.'' |
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