Man on Fire (2004)
Man on Fire (2004)
Man on Fire Photos
Movie Info
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Cast
as John Creasy
as Pita Ramos
as Samuel Ramos
as Lisa Ramos
as Rayburn
as Manzano
as Mariana
as Fuentes
as Jordan Kalfus
as Sister Anna
as Daniel Sanchez
as Aurelio Sanchez
as Maria
as Bruno
as Jorge Ramirez
as Sandri
as Sandri's Girl
as Guardian One
as Guardian Two
as Guardian Three
as Eighteen
as Eighteen's Girlfriend
as Chauffeur
as Father
as Mother
as Reina Rosas
as Rayburn's Wife
as Rayburn's Kid
as Evelyn
as Customs Official
as Pedro
as Bodyguard 1
as Bodyguard 1A
as Bodyguard 2
as Bodyguard 2A
as Japanese Businessman 1
as Japanese Businessman 2
as Japanese Businessman 3
as Japanese Businessman 4
as Japanese Businessman 5
as Japanese Businessman 6
as Commandande Judicial
as Reporter 1
as Docile Reporter
as Highranking Government Official
as Judicial Police
as Piano Teacher
as Insurance Lawyer
as Fuentes Man 1
as Fuentes Driver
as Fuentes Man 5
as Thug Cop 1
as Thug Cop 2
as Adjutant AFI
as Executive Adjutant
as Plainclothes 1
as Plainclothes 2
as Doctor
as Nurse 1
as Nurse 2
as Vet
as Vet Assistant
as Camila
as Elderly Man
as Elderly Woman
as AFI Plainclothes 1
as Undercover AFI
as Mariana's Driver
as Restaurant Owner
as Sanchez Kid 1
as Sanchez Kid 2
as Sanchez Kid 3
as AFI Trailer Tech 1
as AFI Trailer Tech 2
as AFI Operator on Radio
as Interviewer
as Newscaster
as Arms Dealer
as Arms Dealer 2
as Nephew
as Priest
as Taxi Driver
as Customs Official 2
as School Clerk
as Bartender
News & Interviews for Man on Fire
Critic Reviews for Man on Fire
All Critics (161) | Top Critics (40) | Fresh (62) | Rotten (99) | DVD (23)
Suffice it to say nothing about this pumped-up, hyperthyroidal Tony Scott revenge flick makes sense, but it takes two hours to kill off as many people and demolish as many vehicles as Charles Bronson used to do in 30 minutes.
Intentional or not, Man on Fire's over-the-top evocation of Christian retribution goes a long way to making this otherwise standard revenge fantasy watchable.
I'm recommending Man on Fire for that bold style, its unapologetic comic book story arc, and the great performances from Denzel Washington, Christopher Walken and young Dakota Fanning.
This movie isn't just about a kidnapping; it is a kidnapping, and we're the hostages.
Despite a red-hot performance by Washington as the antiheroic, self-annihilating title character, the film as a whole, while possessing a kind of vicious beauty, feels as cold and as embalmed as a corpse.
A predictable, gruesome piece of business that tries to ennoble one-man vigilante justice with the star power of Denzel Washington.
Audience Reviews for Man on Fire
Cool movie where Denzel protects a litte girl at all costs.....what isn't awesome about that?
Super Reviewer
Tony Scott's Man on Fire gives meaning to the word assassin.
The plot doesn't necessarily blow anything out of the park, but the way the story itself unfolds is what gives this film its entertainment value. Despite being a tad lengthy, as it approaches 2 and a half hours, the first hour of character development really sets up the the second half quite nicely.
It's no secret that time does pass until the action shows up, but it is worth the wait. The violence is served with a good helping of blood and brutality, while also not going overboard as to be on the gruesome side; however, Tony Scott's visual effects tends to detract from, not just the action scenes, but the rest of the film as well.
Denzel Washington is a solid choice as former agent Creasy. Dakota Fanning also lives up to expectations. The chemistry between the two is on the money and this is what really makes this picture work.
Man on Fire does have a few disappointments, but all in all, it is one recommendable film.
Super Reviewer
Tony Scott takes a typical story of redemption and turns it into one of his typical, albeit entertaining stylish frenetic action romps. John Creasy is a burnt out, depressed, alcoholic ex-CIA agent turned mercenary who gets a new lease on life after he agrees to become the bodyguard to a precocious little white girl named Pita living in Mexico City with her affluent "new money" parents. Slowly but surely, Pita starts to rehumanize Creasy and bring him out of his slump. He goes over the edge and returns to his violent past life however, when she gets kidnapped and held for ransom. And, as you might expect, there's a twist (like always) and the film is heavy doses of both heart, mayhem, and splattered wall to wall with both blood and religious iconography/symbolism. Basically this is a lot like Taxi Driver in many repects, though not nearly as competantly made, memorable, or brilliant. It's solid, sure, but Scott's stylistic tendencies are a bit overbearing and distracting here. I know he included them as a way of trying to set this routine story apart from other films of this ilk, but it doesn't work out for him nearly as much as it should. The dialogue is clunky, the film isn't quite as balls to the wall in some places (as it should have been), and, even though I am a fan of heavy religious symbolism, it feels way too forced here. Also, the subtext involving corruption in Mexico is a little trite and really glossed over instead of being insightful and full of depth. I do like htis movie though. I mean, it's Denzel Washington kicking ass and taking names...what's not to like? Walken put in an okay supporting performance where he doesn't paly a villain this time, and yeah, this is the breakout film for little Dakota Fanning who does a decent job with the amount of screentime she's given. All in all, this is passable, but overwhelmingly underwhelming in it's lack of focus and over the top with it favoring of style over substance. B-.
Super Reviewer
Man on Fire Quotes
| Fuentes: | You know, I-I'm a professional. |
| John Creasy: | That's what everybody keeps saying. "I'm just a professional". Everybody keeps saying that to me. "I'm just a professional", "I'm just a professional". I'm getting sick and tired of hearing that. |
| John Creasy: | That's what everybody keeps saying. I'm just a professional. Everybody keeps saying that to me. I'm just a professional, I'm just a professional. I'm getting sick and tired of hearing that. |
| John Creasy: | Say goodbye to her! |
| John Creasy: | Who's the boss? Who's the boss? WHO'S THE BOSS?! |
| John Creasy: | Who's the boss? Who's the boss? Who's the boss! |
| John Creasy: | Revenge is a meal best served cold. |
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