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To say he's hit bottom is probably not far from the truth
but a former colleague and friends arranges a soft job for
him as a bodyguard for a rich family in Mexico City.
The world's largest city is rife with violence, and kidnappings
have become so commonplace that families take out insurance
to help them pay asked-for ransoms.
Creasy (Denzel Washington) takes his job seriously and is
so wrapped up in it he has little time for the main protectee
- the couple's young daughter Pita (Dakota Fanning). However,
long after she has won over the audience, Fanning eventually
gets to Creasy and when she becomes the victim of a botched
kidnapping he relentlessly sets out after the criminals.
Creasy's means are not pleasant for those who are part of
the operation - there will be some scenes some folk may want
to watch through their fingers - but almost everyone will
be with him as his volcanic vengeance reaches its climax.
Critics have got stuck into Tony Scott's direction of this
movie saying it is infuriating in the way its perspective
jumps all over the place but, I have to say, I didn't find
that part of it too offensive.
What was riveting was Washington's performance and that of
Fanning. Throw in the hauntingly beautiful Radha Mitchell,
Chris Walken and Mickey Rourke and you have a cast that works
superbly together.
Man on Fire is a well above average thriller that mixes interesting
characters with full-on violence.
Conclusion: Movie 80% Extras 40%
Continued: DVD
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