Review
Man on Fire
- Director
- Tony Scott
- Year
- 2004
- Rating
- Reviewed by
- Jorge Castillo a.k.a. Mithrandir
- Review date
- Monday, August 23, 2004
The movie starts with a very concerning statistic: “There is one kidnapping every 60 minutes in Latin America. 70% of the victims do not survive.” The opening of the movie alone, right as the credits are running, foreshadows part of what’s to come in the movie. We see the kidnapping of a young man and the call to his father with specific instructions on where and how to leave the money if he ever wants to see his son again. It’s a very powerful opening. As things move along, the real movie starts.
It takes place in Mexico City, where an African-American named John W. Creasy (Denzel Washington) arrives to visit a friend named Rayburn (Christopher Walken). Although not directly told (or shown), the director lets the viewer know that Creasy and Rayburn share a common past, a violent past, one which Rayburn seems to have moved on from which is obviously not Creasy’s case. Rayburn finds a job for Creasy as a bodyguard for the Ramos family, composed of Samuel, Lisa, and Pita Ramos. He then becomes Pita’s bodyguard, and takes her to school everyday. At the beginning, Creasy is cold towards Pita (Dakotta Fanning), who wants a friend above everything else. As days pass, he warms up with her and a sort of friendship develops between the two. As Pita’s parents Samuel (Marc Anthony) and Lisa (Radha Mitchell) travel a lot, Pita is often left alone. This struck me the most during a swimming championship of Pita, where Creasy accompanies her. Once there, one of the teachers tells him, in a very direct way, that he was, due to her parent’s absence, Pita’s father for the day.
This introduction of the characters, their ways of life and their specific qualities develop for the first hour or so of the movie. After that, the real plot comes through. One day, while Creasy takes Pita to her piano lessons, they are ambushed by a few civilians (and also policemen) who finally kidnap Pita. Although Creasy shoots most of the attackers, he himself is shot and it’s when he’s unconscious that Pita is abducted.
Telling more would be telling the full plot, but the movie is one that should be watched. Director Scott delivers an almost perfect portrayal of the Mexican corrupt political environment of today, where even criminal cops are able to shove off the law their way to their satisfaction. The way the movie is shot is not the most traditional, as the director flashes through scenes with perfect mastery to get the desired effect. There is also a lot of captions due the movie's half English-half Spanish dialogues, although the director sometimes uses the caption even when characters speak English, just to accentuate certain parts.
The cast could not have been better chosen. The supporting actors are great. Marc Anthony as Samuel Ramos is perfect and Radha Mitchell, in the role of the suffering woman (on her every right to suffer), is also great. The main characters, on the other hand, are nothing short of amazing. Denzel Washington and Dakotta Fanning play their characters to perfection. Denzel demonstrates that he can do no wrong when it comes to acting, as every film that he’s done so far has been delivered with a strong performance. Dakotta Fanning once again demonstrates how amazing she is and how she is one of the best actresses to have debuted in a while even at her short age. We have yet to see a lot of this girl and she will go far. Mark my words.
Overall, the movie is nothing short of outstanding, and everything will keep you with your eyes glued to the screen, from the great dialogue to the beautiful score. It is a movie worth seeing and one of Denzel Washington’s best performances. If not interested however, watch it just for Dakotta. She will win you over.
“A man can be an artist, in anything -- food, whatever. It depends on how good he is at it. Creasy’s art is death. He’s about to paint his masterpiece.”
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Review
Man on Fire
- Director
- Tony Scott
- Year
- 2004
- Rating
- Reviewed by
- José Ruiloba a.k.a. Morris
- Review date
- Thursday, September 30, 2004
Creasy (Denzel Washington) is an alcoholic and retired militant with nothing to lose. He’s got nothing in the world and that loneliness is quickly consuming him. But one day his friend Rayburn (Christopher Walken) urges him to become a bodyguard for a rich American family in Mexico City. He is soon hired by Samuel (Marc Anthony) and his wife Lisa (Radha Mitchell) to take care of their little daughter Pita (Dakotta Fanning). A bond slowly starts to form between Creasy and Pita, so when she is kidnapped one tragic day he simply goes nuts.
I came into Man on Fire expecting an action movie more than anything else. That’s the image I got from the trailers. But I was pleasantly surprised to find a much more thought-provoking, intense drama. Sure, the movie goes into high voltage in its second half, but it comes as a logical and emotional part of the overall plot and not just as a plot device to blow some things up.
The success of the movie lies in the fact that director Tony Scott takes his time. Brian Helgeland’s script, from a novel by A.J. Quinnell, doesn’t rush things up. We spend the first half of the movie getting to know the characters, their conflicts, and their evolution. So when the tragic event occurs in which Creasy is unable to stop Pita from being kidnapped we’re completely immerged, both attention-wise and emotion-wise.
The relationship between Creasy and Pita is beautiful. Sure, Pita does behave more as a grown-up than as a girl her age, but it never crosses the line as to become unrealistic. It’s more about her intentions and her innocence towards wanting to make a new friend in a man he sees as a sad big bear. Creasy is not willing to at first, but it soon evolves into something more. And it’s heartbreaking.
The second half of the movie has Creasy seeking revenge, and you’ve never seen a man as angry as this one. I would pee myself if this man was after me. And the sudden discoveries he makes regarding the kidnap are both sad and disturbing. Yet they’re entirely a result of deranged human behavior. It’s distressing, but real.
Denzel Washington once again tackles a role that goes against-type from what he usually does, and he is superb. I couldn’t say it is one of his best performances, because honestly, you could say that just about every single acting job he’s taken in his career. He starts off as a lost soul, then becomes a father figure, then becomes a cold-blooded assassin. And never does it seem implausible. And Dakota Fanning keeps proving she’s one of the most talented actresses in Hollywood, period. I also enjoyed Radha Mitchell’s performance very much. Great job.
The movie was shot in Mexico City and it portrays an accurate depiction of the city. I’ve been there and know how it can be, whether in the poor neighborhoods or the rich ones. Scott uses his usual flavor of camera tricks and fast editing, something that isn’t always necessary.
Overall, a strong, absorbing movie.
“Forgiveness is between them and God. It’s my job to arrange the meeting.”
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