Man on Fire
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Movie Reviews of Man on Fire
Movie Review: So much more than just an action film...
Summary: 5 Stars
Before penning this review, I took the time to scroll through the comments of others that had reviewed the film as well. Their comments are on-the-mark when dealing with the plot, character development, actor chemistry, and quality of performances for the film. So I'll spare you all that; if you want to read about those things, please take the time to read the reviews of Michael Crane or Sheila Chilcote-Collins. Instead, I'd like to focus on what I feel separates this movie from the general fare of action flicks that turn up every year at the box office: the subtext.
Now, I'm not talking about the subtitles (which are brilliantly used through most of the film - how often do you *notice* the style of the subtitles in a movie?), but rather the underlying themes that drive this film. The movie is clearly a redemption story - primarily the redemption of Creasy - but it is how the film plays out the redemption that helps it to rise above common. Here are a few specific examples of the themes and imagery that pull this off.
The story carries a heavily religious tone, from Creasy's early question to Rayburn "do you think God will ever forgive us," to the bible that he carries, the scriptures that he quotes to the Madre at Pita's school, and the oft-present holy iconography of the heavily Catholic-influenced Mexico. I also find the fact that Creasy's attachment to Pita begins to develop through her desire to swim, ultimately bringing them both together at the water. This marks the beginning of his salvation, much as a Christian is brought into the grace of God through baptism, a ceremony focused on water.
Just as it appears that Creasy's redemption is complete (he has become social again, pushing away his alcoholism, and finding peace through the bible), the conduit for this is snatched away in the kidnapping and then believed killed before he can recover from his wounds in the gun battle. At this point, Creasy becomes an instrument of God - an Old Testament, fire-and-brimstone angel of vengeance - set forth to punish the wicked. Creasy's cause is not revenge, but rather a cleansing of the wicked. He does this even though he knows that it is costing him his own life along the way, and we are poignantly reminded of this every time he steps into the pool at the end of day, where we see the blood - his life blood - being washed away. It is also a nice symbolic representation, tying back the forgiveness granted in baptism, of the washing away of the sins Creasy commits in his quest for divine vengeance.
In the scene where Creasy confronts Samuel and much of the truth is revealed, the bullet is also symbolic, especially when taken into context of Creasy's original attempt to use it, Samuel's professed religious devotion, and his location in the house when Samuel uses it. God's will be done...
There are numerous other instances within the film, but at this point, I'd rather you go watch it for yourself and find them on your own. Just be aware that there is something else going on in the film, a subtext that lends the film much greater meaning, while detracting nothing from the fine acting and action sequences. Then, decide for yourself who truly finds redemption at the end of the movie...
Movie Review: Tony Scott revolutionizes cinematography!
Summary: 5 Stars
I absolutely love the way this film was shot. The first half moved at such a slow pace that Tony Scott had to make the camera work intensfy every moment, and he pulled it off flawlessly. I have heard much complaints about how it was filmed with the camera jittering all over all spastically and the often unnecessary subtitles, but I felt they were a must, or at least a bonus! This tells the story of John Creasy(Washington) an ex-CIA assassin turned wash-up alcoholic who comes to Mexico City to visit his old pal an Co-Op(Walken). While there he recommends him finding a job as a bodyguard, which shouldnt be too hard due to the mass kidnappings of wealthy families going on within the city(The movie's intro credits give us a terrifying example of every day life of these kidnappings). Meanwhile, Samuel(Marc Anthony) is convinced by his lawyer(Mickey Rourke) to hire a bodyguard for him and his Wife(Radha Mitchell)'s daughter, Pita(Dakota Fanning). Thus Creasy becomes the girl's bodyguard. For the first hour we see the development of Creasy in Mexico City, adapting to it all as well as the cheery little girl, whom he pushes away from his emotions. Creasy is a coldhearted killer who knows nothing best but to kill and now he has no left to kill but himself, and Denzel shows this flawlessly. He stands a cold-hearted man, but throughout their time spent together, they form a unique bond, kind of like a Master & Apprentice sort of thing. Creasy soon finds himself somewhat of a second father to Pita, and she teaches him to live again, but amongst once this happens, so does the worst, and soon Creasy finds Pita and himself in danger by abductors, who Creasy puts his all into fighting off to rescue Pita, but no avail. She is kidnapped & Creasy is hospitalized. The Mexican Mob want payment, and Creasy, royally pissed off, is ready to deliver it to them, whether it not be the way they expected or not...
Denzel delivers yet another pwoerful performance. His character, Creasy, reminds me of a (somewhat)good version of Alonzo Harris from Training Day, though he's still full of no remorse. You really feel what he feels throughout the film, you feel his cold bitterness as it turns into happiness, you see as his passionate vengeance turns back into the passionless killing you never saw before.
The film was a great introduction to Dakota Fanning, I can tell she is going to be one excellent actress, hell she is already is one! Christopher Walken, Marc Anthony, Radha Mitchell, & Mickey Rourke give brief, but great performances as the supporting cast as well. Walken gives a key line in the film about Creasy, stating "Everyman is an artist at something. Creasy's art is death, and he is about to paint his masterpiece", and boy does he ever...
This movie is all about character development. I actually walked in expecting a typical popcorn action flick and got something way completly different. I think thats why I love it so much. I want to own this film the day it comes out for sure, I just hope that's not too far off.
Movie Review: Brutal, brooding and spellbinding
Summary: 5 Stars
With kidnapping a viable enterprise in Mexico City, wealthy parents are expected to purchase multi-million dollar life insurance policies, with expectations that their children can be randomly snatched and held for ransom. These kidnappings have become culturally endemic, a source of enormous profit for clever criminals who have bribed the appropriate officials to extort money from terrified parents, with no real assurance that they will see their children alive after the ordeal.
One family hires an ex-Black ops specialist, John Creasy, now a despondent alcoholic, to act as bodyguard for their daughter to qualify for the necessary insurance. From the start, it is abundantly clear that no one is to be trusted, not the police investigators, nor the insurance brokers. Creasy steps into a landmine without any idea of the challenges that await him.
The hard-boiled, cynical Creasy has no illusions about himself, seeking temporary solace in a bottle, a few vague hours of peace in a life gone wrong. Yet the bodyguard (Denzel Washington), looking every bit the dissipated has-been, is slowly thawed by the irrepressible Pita (an endearing Dakota Fanning), gradually losing his fight against an emotional entanglement. When the girl is kidnapped, Creasy is gravely wounded, but determined to revenge the child's loss, although told she is dead.
Then begins a brutal foray through the poverty-riddled barrios of Mexico in search of the culprits, anyone involved in Pita's kidnapping. Creasy is virtually unstoppable in his determination and takes advantage of the help of a newspaper reporter who wants to see the corrupt politicians destroyed. While the first half of Tony Scott's visually stunning Man on Fire is a set up for Creasy's unintentional attachment to Pita, the second half is action-packed and bloody, pulling no punches in a race against time. Grainy, jumpy sequences support the accelerating tension as Creasy moves closer to his target, a man so well-protected that he is known only as "the voice". The rough-cut cinematography intensifies the sinister brutality of a city that is morally compromised by opportunistic crime.
Washington is intense and brooding, his single-mindedness contrasted against the chattering of enterprising families who struggle for space in a chaotic city, but there are equally strong supporting actors, Christopher Walken as an old Black-ops friend, now retired with a family and a distaste for murder and Mickey Rourke, in a small but believable bit as a corrupt broker. The real beauty of the film is the attachment between Creasy and Pita, the little girl who chips away at the frozen heart of a world-weary man on a downhill slide, his final chance at redemption. Like a wounded elephant, Creasy follows his instincts, utterly merciless in his quest for the head of the kidnapping ring. Honor wins out against senseless violence for one brief moment, before the city sinks back into the mire of corruption. Luan Gaines/2005.
Movie Review: Much more than expected
Summary: 5 Stars
I rented this DVD because I think Denzel Washington is worth seeing in anything. I thought I was in for a standard, well done, Hollywood action picture with a slightly shopworn premise. After about 30 minutes, I had high hopes for something more. By the closing credits I knew I had seen a great picture, many cuts about the average.
The basic plot has a more-than-slightly burned out ex-agent (Washington) hired to protect the daughter of a wealthy businessman during a wave of child kidnappings in Mexico City. Despite the initial coldness of the agent, he develops an emotional attachment to his "client." This basic outline has more than a little moss on it (The Bodyguard, The Transporter, The Professional) and the results have been mixed at best. The nature of the story lends itself to the sort of generic sap that Hollywood producers settle for to please the widest audience possible. Man on Fire, for several reasons, seems almost like a new species of action film. There is an edge to it that I haven't seen in a mainstream film in a long time.
Director Tony Scott has produced a dark, taut film that is almost skeletal in its hardness. The images come at a breakneck pace, and not one of them seems clichéd or standard. The scenes and shot selection seem almost random, until you realize that the overall effect has been one of great power. The director has chosen a somber tone, completely unromantic, and it fits the story beautifully.
The writing is excellent throughout. No long speeches, no fluff, and everything sounds painfully true to life. I never had the feeling of any of the actors laboring with a line, or delivering a painful "clinker," where it's clear a writer somewhere was patting themselves on the back for a line that is impossible to deliver without posing.
The real triumph of the film, though, is the acting of Denzel Washington. This guy just gets better and better. How many films have you seen where the main character was supposed to be "burned out" but in fact looked, well, like a Hollywood actor - young, well fed, and at worst maybe a little artfully sullen? Think Tom Cruise trying to act like a world-weary ex-soldier in The Last Samurai. Well, Denzel Washington looked truly burnt, both physically and spiritually. He seemed really to be a slightly jittery, slightly ragged shell of a man. In short, he creates a character of great depth, and every move is believable. Importantly, when the movie turned to violence, his character was without the politically correct "misgivings" so many action film leads suffer with, and his attachment to his client was developed beautifully and completely believable.
I bought this DVD the day after renting it and plan to watch it again when it is delivered. This is one that will stand the test of time, as well as many repeat viewings. -Mykal Banta
Movie Review: They were known for corruption, their deaths are celebrated
Summary: 5 Stars
"Man On Fire" has got to be the most riveting film I've experienced in conscious memory, the characters are so believable I felt as if I'd known them personally very early on.
There is no avoiding the violent nature of this film. Intensely graphic depictions of abject violence, unspeakable cruelty and suffering beyond worst nightmares routinely assaults the senses -- such scenes are too numerous to count. But the drama and emotion are of equal or greater intensity; as much and as often as I *needed* to look away, I couldn't do it, I had to watch.
I was drawn so far into this story, there was no turning back. Perhaps it's the horrific detachment of the kidnappers, and the apparent ease and disregard with which they steal, price-tag and threaten to squander that which is so precious and irreplaceable... As the butchery and mayhem went on (ad infinitum) I found myself increasingly left with a vicarious sense of vindication.
As such, I for one will neither criticize the ferocity nor renounce the frequency of the violence in this film, I consider these necessarily integral to its very compelling story line.
What's more, and perhaps amazingly, the scenes that draw you in and touch your soul are equally memorable, if not more so. Case in point, the classic scenario: a little girl's bids to soften the tough outer shell and befriend a hardened man, who feels he's got nothing left to lose -- these scenes are so beautifully genuine and pure, they set a hook that's inescapable!
Also on the serving tray of this sensory smorgasbord you'll find dark irony, a cascade of bitter betrayals, subtle but heroic sacrifice, rare moments of humor, and a level of empathy and retaliatory consensus that leads you to accept just how something so wrong (i.e., a vindictive killing spree,) can be so right.
All-in-all "Man On Fire" showcases an inspired performance by two seriously talented actors. Denzel Washington (as Creasy) is excellent as usual (the man is brilliant, what more can be said?) And Dakota Fanning's portrayal of her character (Pita) is flawless. She is as talented as she is adorable. Often a young character in a film leaves me with the sense that the surrounding adults did more than the child actor to support the role. Not here though, as a cast member in this film, Fanning carries her own weight -- and then some!
Lastly, though at times slightly distracting, I found the unique filming style to be quite effective. It seemed to be an attempt to bring home to the viewer, the chaos and cacophony that is metropolitan Latin America. Of course I have no way to know, but choose to believe its specific intent was to apply a certain level of subconscious anxiety and stress... wouldn't want to see it in every film but in this one it worked for me.