Man on Fire
In Mexico City, a former assassin swears vengeance on those who committed an unspeakable act against the family he was hired to protect.Director:
Tony ScottWriters:
A.J. Quinnell (novel), Brian Helgeland (screenplay)Stars:
Denzel Washington, Christopher Walken, Dakota Fanning | See full cast and crew »Storyline
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 seriously wounded during the kidnapping, he
vows to kill anyone ... Written by
Sujit R. Varma
User Reviews
flawed but gripping crime thriller
You know you're in for
something different when a movie has Christopher Walken playing the part
of a professional hit man - and he isn't even one of the bad guys!
Although it could do with some judicious trimming here and there, "Man
on Fire" is a generally effective crime drama that ranges in tone from
the openly sentimental to the downright brutal - and just about every
tone imaginable in between.
Denzel Washington stars as Creasy, a
former CIA assassin who has recently quit the business and is seeking
some sort of redemption for the sins he's committed. So far, he's been
looking for answers in a bottle and the Bible and not doing all that
well with either. As the movie opens, Mexico City has been ravaged by a
series of kidnappings aimed at the powerful and well-to-do, possibly
perpetrated by the very police force assigned to keep law and order in
the community. Creasy accepts the position as bodyguard to the daughter
of a wealthy business owner who rightly fears for her safety. The first
third of the film is devoted to the growing friendship between Creasy
and his charge, Pita, a sweet little girl who, slowly but surely, works
her way into Creasy's initially hardened heart and affections. The last
two-thirds of the film turns into an Avenging Angel melodrama, as Creasy
systematically seeks out and eliminates all those responsible for a
tragedy that occurs early on in the story.
Based on the novel by
A.J Quinnell, "Man on Fire," astutely written by Brian Helgeland and
flashily directed by Tony Scott, is a coolly efficient action picture
that never shies away from the raw brutality of its subject matter. It
takes a risk in asking us to identify with a man who is, for all intents
and purposes, achieving his redemption by torturing and murdering
(admittedly disreputable) people. These scenes of carnage and violence
are both intense and suspenseful, even if they do at times border on the
exploitative. Even better are the quiet, intimate moments between
Creasy and Pita in the early parts of the movie. Washington and the
wonderful Dakota Fanning establish an natural, easygoing rapport that
helps to set the stage for the chaos and turmoil to follow.
Washington
carries the movie with his quality of stoic righteousness, making us
understand his character on an emotional level even if what he is doing
eludes us intellectually. In addition to the two leads, there are solid
performances from Walken, Marc Anthony, Radha Mitchell, Mickey Rourke,
Rachel Ticotin and Giancarlo Giannini. But it is Washington and the
delightful Ms. Fanning who steal the show.
"Man on Fire" would
have been better with about a half hour taken out its running time, but
this is still a better-than-average crime thriller.
