Man On Fire (2004) Movie Information:
| Man On Fire (2004) Directed by: |
 Tony Scott |
| Man On Fire (2004) Written by: |
| Brian Helgeland, A Quinnell |
| Man On Fire (2004) Cast: |
| Denzel Washington, Dakota Fanning, Marc Anthony, Radha Mitchell, Christopher Walken, Giancarlo Giannini, Rachel Ticotin, Jesus Ochoa, Mickey Rourke, Angelina Pelaez |
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Man On Fire (2004) Synopsis:
A wave of kidnappings has swept through Mexico, feeding a growing sense of panic among its wealthier citizens, especially parents. In one six-day period, there were twenty-four abductions, leading many to hire bodyguards for their children. Into this world enters John Creasy, a burned-out ex-CIA operative/assassin, who has given up on life. Creasy's friend Rayburn brings him to Mexico City to be a bodyguard to nine-year-old Pita Ramos, daughter of industrialist Samuel Ramos and his wife Lisa. Creasy is not interested in being a bodyguard, especially to a youngster, but for lack of something better to do, he accepts the assignment. Creasy barely tolerates the precocious child and her pestering questions about him and his life. But slowly, she chips away at his seemingly impenetrable exterior, his defenses drop, and he opens up to her. Creasy's new-found purpose in life is shattered when Pita is kidnapped. Despite being mortally wounded during the kidnapping, he vows to kill anyone involved in or profiting from the kidnapping. And no one can stop him.
Man On Fire (2004) Movie Review:
Washed up ex-army specialist Creasy (Washington) is given a second chance when long time friend Rayburn (Walken) offers him a job protecting a family in Mexico City. Remote and still drinking, Creasy sees this a just a way of passing the time but this changes when he meets the family’s daughter Pita (Fanning). She gets him to open up for the first time in years and gives him a reason to live. Creasy’s happiness is short lived when Pita is kidnapped and he is almost killed in the ambush. As soon as he is able to get back on his feet, Creasy swears vengeance on anyone that profited from or had anything to do anything to do with Pita’s kidnapping.
The revenge movie is making a comeback but does Tony Scott’s latest have what it takes to dish out some punishment? The answer is a very intense yes.
The flamboyant director utilises all of his MTV style tricks of the trade to bring a visual feast to the screen but the difference is that this movie has the story to match the visuals. Based on the novel by A.J. Quinnell with a screenplay by the excellent Brian Helgeland, this is a movie that doesn’t placate to the normal structure of the action drama. The film refreshingly takes its time building character and cementing the relationship between Creasy and Pita. This is where the picture really works as you really start to care about the characters and their situation. By the time the kidnap happens and the action really starts, you have enough time invested in the both Creasy, Pita and her family for you to feel the same way as principles on screen.
The performances match the quality of the script. Everyone knows that Denzel Washington is one of the finest actors working in film today and in Creasy he portrays a troubled man who rediscovered life. We meet the character when he is emotionally closed, a drunk and wondering around Latin America with no direction, then he meets Pita. At first he sees her as a distraction but slowly, over the first hour of the movie, Creasy opens up to the young girl and becomes part of her life. Washington conveys this with his usual talent and panache, making the character believable and approachable. After the kidnapping we witness the emergence of the Creasy that has tormented him for so long. This is an artist who specialises in death and the people involved are going to pay. In Washington’s performance we don’t ever doubt this.
Dakota Fanning is the best child actress working in Hollywood today. For someone so young, she conveys emotion better than some actors that have been in the business longer than she has been alive. As Pita, she portrays a child character that is likeable, which makes a change for Hollywood. This was a must for the story, as you really had to gain sympathy for her plight.
The support of the two leading characters is also first rate. Aussie Radha Mitchell continues to make inroads into Hollywood with another fine supporting performance as Pita’s mother Lisa. Her reaction to her daughter’s kidnapping is exactly as you’d expect it to be, drawing up all the emotion and pain that comes from that dreadful situation. Rachel Ticotin and Giancarlo Giannini are good as Creasy’s information sources. The smaller supporting are drawn from the always excellent Christopher Walken and the rejuvenated Mickey Rourke.
Tony Scott summons up all of his visual flair to produce a unique look for the movie. He really excites viewer by combining extremely quick cuts and zooms with a yellow tinge to bring the vibrant Mexico City to life. He also utilises subtitles is a unique way, throwing them onto the screen not just to translate the Spanish language but also to highlight key conversations or words. They then fade away into the frame. This is probably Tony Scott’s best movie since True Romance.
While some of the characters are not developed enough and we don’t really get to find out much about Creasy’s background, Man on Fire is still an engaging story wrapped in a blood-drenched coat. The film treats the viewer with a level of intelligence by building character and emotional attachment before snatching it all away from you and dragging you kicking and screaming onto the path of revenge.
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Man On Fire (2004) review written by: Jamie Kelwick
