The star-studded cast can't hide the fact that the story for this movie
suuuuuccckkkks. After being introduced to all of the (bland) characters,
we're finally treated to this nameless city blowing the fuck up (thanks to a
disgruntled oil refinery employee) and...it's pretty boring. Poorly
photographed explosions mixed in with stock footage. The story eventually
focuses in on some firemen's efforts to rescue the people trapped in a hospital
and...that's boring as well. In fact, there's nothing about CITY ON FIRE
that isn't boring! Boring script, boring special effects, boring
photography, boring acting. I really enjoy disaster movies, but CITY ON
FIRE straight-up bored me to death. Which is a shame since Henry Fonda and
Shelley Winters are both
amazing talents (just watch
MISTER ROBERTS
or
A PLACE IN THE SUN
if you don't believe me), but they are strictly on auto-pilot here.
Collecting a paycheck.
Outside of morbid curiosity or self-hatred, I can't think of too many reasons to
ever subject yourself to this overcooked turkey. Skip it with a vengeance.
According to Box Office Mojo, CITY ON FIRE cost $5.3 million to make and only
brought in $784,000. That's kinda funny.
Eating egg shells.
