Down a country road and around a dusty bend, John Walker spends his days in a shed behind his house, where he shapes scrap metal into works of art. Walker, a 60-something former Texas A&M architecture professor, doesn't get many visitors these days, but lately, he's connected with an old friend who left a lasting impression on him more than nine years ago.

There are a few film screening scenarios where a moviegoer's choice of seat is extremely significant. Such is the case with Jay Russell's "Ladder 49," because if you are not careful, a large portion of your peripheral vision may be obstructed by the inflated chest of an overly attentive volunteer firefighter.