Catch a Fire
Seen it?2006 | 101 min | Action, Drama, Thriller
Sunday Safe Betearly ratingWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
It earned strong reviews (75% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had almost no lasting buzz and a lukewarm 6.3 out of 10 from audiences. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who likes to be kept guessing and action fans. If you loved Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story or Point Blank, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Tense.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 41 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated PG-13. Probably too much for younger kids.
The true story of anti-apartheid activists in South Africa, and particularly the life of Patrick Chamusso, a timid foreman at Secunda CTL, the largest synthetic fuel plant in the world. Patrick is wrongly accused, imprisoned and tortured for an attempt to bomb the plant, with the injustice transforming the apolitical worker into a radicalised insurgent, who then carries out his own successful sabotage mission.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
75% on Rotten Tomatoes, 62 on Metacritic
- AudiencesBelow par
6.3 out of 10
- AwardsWeak
0 wins and 3 nominations from smaller awards and festivals
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$6 million worldwide on a $14 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactWeak
About 18K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Phillip Noyce
- Tim RobbinsNic Vos
- Derek LukePatrick Chamusso
- Bonnie MbuliPrecious Chamusso
- Mncedisi ShabanguZuko September
- Tumisho MashaObadi
- Sithembiso KhumaloSixpence
- Terry PhetoMiriam
- Michele BurgersAnna Vos
- Mpho LovingaJohnny Piliso
- Jay AnsteyKatie Vos