"Man on Fire"

United States/Mexico, 2004
U.S. Release Date: 4/23/04 (wide)
Running Length: 2:12
MPAA Classification: R

Cast: Denzel Washington, Dakota Fanning, Marc Anthony, Radha Mitchell, Christopher Walken, Giancarlo Giannini, Rachel Ticotin, Jesús Ochoa, Mickey Roarke
Director: Tony Scott
Producers: Arnon Milchan, Tony Scott, Lucas Foster
Screenplay: Brian Helgeland, based on the novel by A.J. Quinnell

So, a couple years back I watched the movie Man on Fire, I thought that I would revisit it for the sake of this blog… I’m glad I did.

John W. Creasy is an ex-CIA assassin (Denzel Washington) who has been hired to protect the daughter of the Ramos family in Mexico City. When Pita (Dakota Fanning) is kidnapped, he vows to seek revenge on all those involved in her disappearance.

The movie is slow in the beginning but is sure to develop all the characters – particularly the relationship between nine-year-old Pita and Creasy – who has, basically given up on life, since being in the CIA. Pita slowly chips away at Creasy, and their friendship begins to grow stronger. Even her school teachers consider Creasy a father figure to the young girl. The film builds when Pita is kidnapped and Creasy sets out to find and kill anyone who was involved. “Revenge is a meal best served cold” he says.

The pace of the film continues to quicken as Creasy desperately seeks out members of “La Hermandad” – a brotherhood of corrupt police in Mexico City. A reporter from the local “Reforma” newspaper, Mariana (Rachel Ticotin) is trying to unveil the workings of this brotherhood. Creasy uses Mariana and her resources to help find the crooked cops as well as other Mexican gang members who were caught up in Pita’s kidnapping. In turn, Mariana uses his leads to expose the inter-workings of “La Hermandad”.

Man on Fire plays out with furious speed and intensely colorful cinematography with a harsh dark edge. Clever use of subtitles draws in its audience as it interweaves between the Spanish and English language.

I really enjoyed this movie for its intense qualities as well as the heartfelt moments. I thought the direction and tone was right on and the artistic detail was riveting.

Personal Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Futher information can be found at iMDB.com