May 29, 1991 -- ``Backdraft'' is a somewhat overwrought melodramatic movie about the lives and loves of second-generation firefighters in Chicago. Competently acted by Kurt Russell, William Baldwin, Scott Glenn and Robert DeNiro the film is part love story, part murder mystery and a lot of action.

Although the sibling rivalry between Russell and Baldwin is a central part of the film's plot, it lacks punch and the motivation seems to be lacking to support the evident emotional intensity. The breakup of Russell's marriage seems to be a pointless complication in the whole soap opera. The murder mystery element of the plot works a lot better than the rest of it.

The real star of the film is the fire. It is portrayed as a living creature, and with the tender loving care provided by George Lucas' Industrial Light and Magic special effects company the fire does seem to have a life of its own. The action sequences are spectacular as the firemen daringly save buildings and people from the all-consuming flames.

DeNiro and Donald Sutherland lend excellent support to the film in their respective cameo roles as fire investigator and convicted arsonist (the Hannibal the Cannibal of the firestarter set).

This is a flawed, but entertaining actioner with the soft heart of a soap opera. On a scale of one to 10 it rates a six.

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