Creasy (Denzel Washington) exacts revenge on the kidnappers of Pita (Dakota Fanning), pictured below.

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 fi ts the bill. Creasy (Washington) is hired as a cheap bodyguard for a child in a wealthy family to fi t the kidnap insurance requirements. His training and experience is top-notch, but he likes to drink – a lot – which slows his refl exes.

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 fi rst 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 fi nish 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 fl icks set in Mexico. Rose-tinted scenes, short snappy shots, angled fi lming 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-havehappy ending Hollywood fi lm.

It does what is 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 fl ick.

If you like action, Denzel Washington and a movie that has a few layers, see Man on Fire.