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MAN ON FIRE
Collector's Edition
Review by Gordon Justesen
Stars:
Denzel Washington, Dakota Fanning, Christopher Walken, Giancarlo Giannini, Radha
Mitchell, Marc Anthony, Rachel Ticotin, Mickey Rourke
Director: Tony Scott
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 5.1, French Dolby Surround, Spanish Dolby
Surround
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.40:1
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Features: See Review
Length: 146 Minutes
Release Date: May 24, 2005
“Forgiveness
is between them and God. It’s my job to arrange the meeting.”
Film
***
Tony Scott is a
director known for his unique visual style and superb crafting of movies in the
action and suspense genre. He’s directed such masterful works as True Romance and Enemy of the
State. Another of Scott’s best films, Crimson
Tide, marked a collaboration with actor Denzel Washington, who has reunited
with Scott for the poetic action thriller, Man
on Fire.
Scott has said in
interviews that of all the films he’s made in his career, this is by far his
most personal, and that’s quite believable. He has woven together his usual
technical trademarks, combined them with a screenplay by Brian Helgeland (L.A.
Confidential, Mystic River) and a powerful performance from Washington. The
result is a movie that is not without flaws, but is totally worth one’s
attention.
Scott has brought
to this film an uncompromising vision of present day Mexico City, where
kidnappings are more random than perhaps anywhere else on the planet. It is
stated in the opening that in Mexico City, there is one kidnapping every 60
minutes, and that 75% of the victims do not survive. It just happens to be an
unfortunate means of business for the culprits who commit them.
The center focus of
the story is John Creasy (Washington), a former CIA operative who has arrived to
meet up with his former boss, Rayburn (Christopher Walken). Creasy is a burned
out soul, and an alcoholic; haunted by nightmares of incidents in the past he
can never forgive himself. On the brink of suicide, Rayburn offers him a job as
a bodyguard.
Creasy accepts the
job, which consists of protecting the daughter of a wealthy Mexican
industrialist. She is Pita Ramos (Dakota Fanning). The father, Samuel (Marc
Anthony), is convinced by his lawyer (Mickey Rourke) to have her protected with
the kidnapping rate so high. Creasy is hired, despite his admitting to drinking
heavily to the parents.
The job turns out
to be more difficult than Creasy thinks. He’s not looking to be friends with
anyone, yet Pita is such a loving and friendly person, that Creasy slowly but
surely starts to bond with her. Before long, this little girl has done nothing
short of show her destructive protector a reason to live again.
But just when
Creasy’s life starts to see signs of a turnaround, the unthinkable happens. He
is gunned down by corrupt cops and left for dead, as Pita is taken away in the
blink of an eye. As Creasy lies in a coma, and an attempt to deliver a ransom
goes badly, it seems as if the life of the kidnapped girl may have very much
ended.
Once Creasy has
gotten back on his feet, and receives the grim news, he makes a vow to the
mother, that he will kill anyone and everyone who had anything to do with the
kidnapping, even if they profited from it. He then has Rayburn help in assemble
for him an arsenal to help get the job done. Just as Creasy was on the brink of
becoming a changed man, he’s been forced right back to his former killing
methods.
The second half of Man
on Fire, which chronicles Creasy hunting down numerous members of a cartel
suspected of the kidnapping, is without question the most brutally effective of
the entire movie. Director’s Scott’s invigorating camera techniques and
perfect use of a couple of Nine Inch Nails songs help in delivering the sheer
power of these sequences.
Two scenes, in
particular, are sure to have you gasping for air. The first of which has Creasy
interrogating his first suspect; a scene that will make you thankful for your
ten fingers. The second of which involves the use of an explosive device on
another suspect. I won’t dare mention the area where the explosive is used,
but I will say that I cringed just at the thought of it.
The one thing
keeping Man on Fire from being a
surefire masterpiece is one simple factor; over length. While I appreciate the
film taking its time in allowing character development in the first hour, it
causes the movie to run about twenty five minutes longer than it needs to. With
plot elements that could’ve been solved in a two hour movie is executed in a
nearly two and a half hour movie. In addition, this film had something of a
misfortunate to be released in theaters at the same time as The
Punisher and Kill Bill Vol. 2, which are also revenge thrillers and are far
better by comparison.
However, the
overall film remains a powerful piece, both visually and in story. A commanding
performance from Denzel Washington, as well as grand supporting work from Dakota
Fanning and Christopher Walken, combined with Tony Scott’s razor sharp vision,
blend to make a dark action thriller whose high marks more than make up for its
slight flaws.
Video
****
Believe me when I
say that this is one amazing looking disc! Thankfully, Fox only released this
film in Widescreen, because the film would’ve no doubt lost a great deal of
visual momentum if presented in Full Screen. Fox’s anamorphic presentation
injects all the elements of an outstanding looking movie on DVD. The powerful
visuals of the movie ignite the screen with everything to sharp imaging to
incredible colors to all around outstanding detail. Without question, one of the
best looking discs I’ve ever come across.
Audio
****
Likewise in the
audio department. With an option of Dolby 5.1 or DTS 5.1, both of which provide
amazing earth-shaking sound, this is one remarkable piece of DVD audio. By way
of the technical qualities displayed by Tony Scott, the sound of this disc is
outstanding right from its opening sequence. The action sequences, as well as
the vast array of the music choices on the soundtrack, especially the NIN cuts,
provide some of the biggest jolts you’re bound to get in a single DVD
presentation. The highest of marks all the way!
Features
****
This 2-Disc All
Access Collector’s Edition from Fox boasts some truly phenomenal extras. If
you bought the first disc, and were let down by the low level of extras, this
one is definitely worth getting, as it provides more bang for your buck!
Disc One includes
two commentary tracks; the first with Tony Scott, the second with screenwriter
Brian Helgeland, costar Dakota Fanning and producer Lucas Foster.
Disc Two is a
loaded arsenal of extras. Featured is a riveting production documentary titled
“Vengeance is Mine”. Also included is an alternate ending with optional
commentary by Tony Scott, 14 Deleted Scenes with Optional Commentary by Tony
Scott, a Multi-Angle Scene Study (Pita's Abduction) with optional commentary by
Tony Scott, Director's Storyboards and Script Excerpt, a Still Photo Gallery, a
music video for "Oye Como Va" by Kinky, and Theatrical Trailers/TV
Spots.
Summary:
