“Man On Fire” (20th Century Fox)
Watching “Man On Fire” is a schizophrenic experience. For half of it there is a wonderfully emotional relationship displayed. For the other half it is all about revenge and violence. You could possibly love one part and hate the other depending on your taste in moviemaking storylines. But in both parts Denzel Washington and Dakota Fanning are excellent in making their roles believable.
Washington plays Creasy, a man with a violent past, who is hired as a bodyguard for Pita (Fanning). Pita is a ten year old girl living with her mother and father (Marc Anthony and Radha Mitchell) in Mexico City, the kidnapping capitol of the world. Creasy is a loner and a habitual drinker. He doesn’t want any type of social connection between him and the person he guards, but Pita forms a connection with him in spite of his stand-offishness.
When Pita is kidnapped Creasy goes into a rage. He vows to eliminate from the world those who took part in this crime. Hee sets about doing it with a thorough and steady precision. This is when the film takes on its violent and savage aspects.
The first half of the movie is so strong and Pita’s impact so great that you can almost sanction the violence that follows. Almost, but not quite. It just gets more and more horrific with brutality becoming the norm. Creasy is a man on a mission but the mission gets blurred with the horror he brings with him.
Washington is very good in his role, conveying the sadness, the rebirth and the brute force with equal conviction. He is a talented actor and if anyone could pull off a role like this, it is he. Plus he has the perfect co-star in Fanning. Although it seems impossible that a dark Latin like Marc Anthony could have a blue-eyed, blonde child like her; that is the only flaw in the process. Her acting is impeccable and she brings a wisdom beyond her years to the scenes of emotional tenderness between her and Washington.
Christopher Walken is on hand as a friend of Creasy’s. He is as talented as ever but the role is virtually a cameo. Mickey Rourke has a few scenes as the family’s attorney who is handling the kidnapper’s demands. Old Mickey looks better in this film than he has in ages. He doesn’t look so plastic and is totally relaxed in his role.
The movie is rated R for violence and profanity.
The acting and the emotional connection between the characters created by Washington and Fanning lift this movie to a level beyond the average. It could have been better if the violence had not been as graphic. That will keep some who might enjoy the emotional aspects of the movie away. Still there is a large segment of the audience today who wants to see some revenge and retribution.
I scored “Man On Fire” a very hot 6 out of 10.
