The Substance of Fire

Name: The Substance of Fire
Genre: Drama
Released: March 14, 1997
Duration: 97 min
Rating: 54

1997

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Mixed or average reviews based on 15 Critic Reviews

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Movie Details & Credits

Miramax Films | Release Date: March 14, 1997 | R

Summary: Ron Rifkin plays a headstrong book publisher who refuses to "sell out" by releasing anything commercial, even when his business partner and son (Goldwyn) discovers a sure-fire best-seller. As the father's stubbornness pushes their company to the brink of bankruptcy, the son must convince his brother and sister (Hutton and Parker) to joinRon Rifkin plays a headstrong book publisher who refuses to "sell out" by releasing anything commercial, even when his business partner and son (Goldwyn) discovers a sure-fire best-seller. As the father's stubbornness pushes their company to the brink of bankruptcy, the son must convince his brother and sister (Hutton and Parker) to join him in a fight that will save the business, but may destroy their family. (BV Entertainment)… Expand

Director: Daniel J. Sullivan

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: R

Runtime: 97 min

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Critic Reviews

Roger Ebert

The film, directed by Daniel Sullivan, is brave, I think, to offer us a complicated scenario without an easy moral compass. Read full review

David Sterritt

This sensitive, sometimes troubling family drama is one of the rare movies dealing with intelligent adults tackling lifelike problems. Read full review

Stephen Holden

The film, to its credit, never tries to pluck your heartstrings. As it follows the Geldharts around New York, they are figures in a meditative dialogue on human values that reaches no easy conclusions. Read full review

Edward Guthmann

First-time film director Sullivan draws good performances from Goldwyn, Hutton and Parker, as well as Debra Monk, Elizabeth Franz and Eric Bogosian in minor roles. Read full review

Robert Faires

The screen version feels like a rewrite made to make the tale more palatable to the "mindless moviegoing masses," which prompts the question: Is the film a truer vision of Baitz's tale of an uncompromising man or a version in which the truer vision was compromised? Read full review

James Berardinelli

Aside from a powerful performance by Ron Rifkin (reprising his stage role) and a few quietly effective scenes, there's not much reason to subject yourself to a film this off-putting. Read full review

Jonathan Rosenbaum

But despite a compelling opening, as a movie it loses focus and purpose as it proceeds. Read full review

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