Substance of Fire

The shadow of the Holocaust hangs over Ron Rifkin's debonair publisher, a supremely intelligent but arrogant man who is destroying his tony company with a self-indulgent project. This catalyst for a family crisis unites his children, Sarah Jessica Parker, Timothy Hutton, and Tony Goldwyn, in an effort to save him and their business. There is a strong emotional core to this adapted play, but as past and present collide, the focus shifts uncomfortably from father to son, convincing us that part of the story remained on a cutting room floor. Just watch this for the beautifully shaded performances, especially by Rifkin. --Rochelle O'Gorman