Fireproof (2008)

Director:

Alex Kendrick

Writers:

Alex Kendrick (story) &
Stephen Kendrick (story)

Release Date:

26 September 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Never Leave Your Partner Behind.

Plot:

In an attempt to save his marriage, A firefighter uses a 40-day experiment known as "The Love Dare".

Plot Keywords:

Marriage | Firefighter | One Word Title | Faith | Husband Wife Relationship

Cast

Kirk Cameron	...	Caleb Holt
Erin Bethea	...	Catherine Holt
Ken Bevel	...	Michael Simmons
Stephen Dervan	...	Wayne Floyd
Eric Young	...	Terrell Sanders
Jason McLeod	...	Eric Harmon
Harris Malcom	...	John Holt
Phyllis Malcom	...	Cheryl Holt
Perry Revell	...	Gavin Keller
Stephanie Makulinski	...	Robin Cates
Renata Williams	...	Latasha Brown
Dwan Williams	...	Deidra Harris
Amberly Marquard	...	Ashley Phillips
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Blake Bailey	...	Stephanie Mills
Anthony Brown	...	James Turner
Walter Burnett	...	Dr. Anderson
Bailey Cave	...	Ross Spencer
Janet Lee Dapper	...	ER Nurse
Allison Dawson	...	Mrs. Turner
Taylor Glow	...	Megan
Tracy Goode	...	Benny Murphy
Carla Hawkins	...	Tina Simmons
Sue Holt	...	Mrs. Campbell
Heidi Johnson	...	Dispatcher
Kelly Johnson	...	Bethany Wilson
Alex Kendrick	...	Pastor Strauss
Dot Majors	...	Erma Rudolph
Jim McBride	...	Carl Hatcher
Tommy McBride	...	Kyle Joiner
Faye Sharber	...	Anna Stone
Bill Stafford	...	Mr. Rudolph
Deena Taylor	...	Misty Harper
Melanie Tomlinson	...	Kelsey Jackson
Rob Whitehurst	...	Man at crash
Ray Wood	...	Mr. Campbell

Directed by
Alex Kendrick

Writing credits
Alex Kendrick		(story and screenplay) &
Stephen Kendrick		(story and screenplay)

Produced by
Michael Catt	....	executive producer
Tracy Goode	....	associate producer
Alex Kendrick	....	producer
Stephen Kendrick	....	producer
Jim McBride	....	executive producer
David Nixon	....	co-producer
Brad Weston	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Mark Willard

Cinematography by
Bob Scott		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Bill Ebel

Makeup Department
Erin Bethea	....	assistant makeup artist
Curry Bushnell	....	makeup department head

Production Management
Steve Dapper	....	production manager
Justin Tolley	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tracy Goode	....	second unit director
Ben McLeod	....	first assistant director: second unit
David Nixon	....	assistant director
Justin Tolley	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Sheila McBride	....	set designer
Frances Sadler	....	set dresser

Sound Department
Kevin Daughtry	....	boom operator
Patrick Donahue	....	sound re-recording mixer
Nick Palladino	....	sound designer
Rob Whitehurst	....	production sound mixer

Special Effects by
G. Heath Hood	....	special effects foreman
Harry Hurst	....	special effects foreman
Bruce E. Merlin	....	special effects coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
David S. Campbell	....	Steadicam operator
Hayley Catt	....	still photographer
Mike L. Germaine	....	key grip
Ben McLeod	....	first assistant camera
Shane McMullin	....	best boy grip
Chip Monk	....	Steadicam operator
Chip Monk	....	first assistant camera
Bob Scott	....	camera operator
Mike Smallwood	....	gaffer

Editorial Department
Scot Olive	....	colorist

Other crew
Jay Clark	....	technical coordinator
Warner Loughlin	....	acting coach
Holly Stiegel	....	script supervisor
Justin Tolley	....	production coordinator
Mary Tolley	....	talent coach

Production Companies

• Samuel Goldwyn Films
• Affirm Films
• Carmel Entertainment
• Provident Films
• Sherwood Pictures

Distributors

• Affirm Films (2008) (USA) (theatrical)
• Kross Pictures (2009) (South Korea) (theatrical)
• Samuel Goldwyn Films (2008) (USA) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Entertainment (2009) (Japan) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)

MPAA:

Rated PG for thematic material and some peril.

Runtime:

USA:122 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG | Singapore:PG | South Korea:All

Filming Locations:

Albany, Georgia, USA

Company:

Samuel Goldwyn Films

Trivia:

As of October 25, this is distributor Samuel Goldwyn's highest grossing movie-to-date.

Goofs:

Continuity: Walking toward the cross for the father and son talk, the actors pass behind a huge tree about 20 feet from the camera, then emerge perhaps 100 feet away from the camera, throwing the perspective way off.

Quotes:

Michael Simmons: 40 days? Does Catherine know?
Caleb Holt: I'm not gonna tell her. If she wants to go ahead and file, it's up to her.
Michael Simmons: Divorce is a hard thing, man.
Caleb Holt: Well, if it brings peace...
Michael Simmons: But Caleb, you want the right kind of peace.
Caleb Holt: What do you mean by that?
Michael Simmons: You know what that ring on your finger means?
Caleb Holt: It means I'm married.
Michael Simmons: Yeah, well, it also means you made a lifelong covenant. You putting on that ring, by saying your vows. The sad part about it is when most people promise for better or for worse, they really only mean for the better.
Caleb Holt: Catherine and I were in love when we got married. Today, we're two very different people. All right? It's just not working out anymore.
[...]

Movie Connections:

References Flywheel (2003)

Soundtrack:

While I'm Waiting

Average at best but sprinkled with moments of brilliance

I almost quit on this movie 20 minutes into it. The script was riddled with trite dialogue and the performances seemed a little stiff. I had a huge problem with the train scene where something significant seemed to happen near the end but was never resolved (and apparently completely forgotten about for the rest of the movie), which was quite bizarre. But as the film progressed and reached its climax, there were actually some very powerful and moving moments, performed very impressively by both Kirk Cameron and Erin Bethea. This movie kind of reminded me of "Freedom Writers" where overall it was so-so yet contained some very poignant, profound, and memorable scenes.

I am a Christian and I admired the fact that the makers of "Fireproof" were not shy of bringing forth the Gospel message and how Jesus Christ should be the focal point of a healthy marriage. I couldn't help but think what I would have thought about this movie if I had seen it before I received Christ into my life. Back then, I think I can honestly say that I may very well have turned it off after those first 20 minutes. But if I hadn't, it could very well have helped to change my life. And thinking about it, I bet there are some people out there whose life DID change after watching this, and to that I say hallelujah! :-)