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Dakota
Fanning
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Man
on Fire
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Cracker
action
Man
on Fire
Stars
Denzel Washington, Marc Anthony, Dakota Fanning, Radha Mitchell,
Christoper Walken, Marc Anthony, Giancarlo Giannini, Rachel Ticotin
and Mickey Rourke. Rated M 15+.
Reviewer: LT Simone Heyer
Rating: 
IF
YOU’RE going to pay $15 to sit in a darkened room with strangers,
Man on Fire is definitely worth it.
Director Tony Scott loves the spy/secret agent/high-level corruption
movie. Following on from Crimson Tide, Spy Game and Enemy of the
State fame, Man on Fire fits the bill.
Creasy (Washington) is hired as a cheap bodyguard for a child in
a wealthy family to fit the kidnap insurance requirements. His training
and experience is top-notch, but he likes to drink – a lot
– which slows his reflexes. He has a past he wants to forget,
and guarding Pita (Fanning) should be low-key enough to keep his
mind busy, with no extra trouble.
The first hour of the movie sets up the relationship between Pita
and Creasy. Pita’s ambitious and Creasy begins to mentor her.
She teaches him it’s okay to live.
The movie could finish there, but takes a turn when Pita is snatched
from Creasy’s arms in an elaborate kidnapping. That’s
when the old Creasy comes back – he has nothing to live for
and has no problems exacting revenge on the kidnappers, no matter
how high up the social rungs they sit.
Man on Fire has an Amores Perros feel to it that seems compulsory
for flicks set in Mexico. Rose-tinted scenes, short snappy shots,
angled filming and, interestingly, random captions to emphasise
conversations, make it fast-paced. It is always evolving.
Although it’s only August, I’m going to make the call
that Man on Fire is the movie of the year in the action/kidnapping
genre.
It’s not the usual must-have-happy ending Hollywood film. It
does what it has to do and isn’t shy about showing Creasy’s
gentle and callous sides.
Man on Fire has had some negative press, probably because it won’t
appeal to people who overly favour a B-grade art-house flick.
If you like action, Denzel Washington and a movie that has a few
layers, see Man on Fire.
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