MAN ON FIRE (2004)

MORGAN'S RATING

A bitter and remorseful former government operative moves to Mexico to take a position as the bodyguard for a wealthy family who have been receiving kidnapping threats. When their 10-year-old daughter, Pina, whom he had so recently befriended, is indeed kidnapped, the soldier-turned-guard devotes himself fully to reaping vengeance on those responsible. Director Tony Scott builds the relationship between Crasy and Pita in the first half of the film in order to justify Creasy's violent actions in the later half, and in the process does a fine job of keeping the film's tension high.

Denzel Washington (Creasy), Dakota Fanning (Pita), Marc Anthony (Samuel), Radha Mitchell (Lisa), Christopher Walken (Rayburn), Giancarlo Giannini (Manzano), Rachel Ticotin (Mariana), Jesus Ochoa (Fuentes), Mickey Rourke (Jordan), Angelina Pelaez (Sister Anna), Gustavo Sanchez Parra (Daniel Sanchez), Gero Camilo (Aurelio Sanchez), Rosa Maria Hernandez (Maria), Heriberto Del Castillo (Bruno), Mario Zaragoza (Jorge Ramirez), Javier Torres Zaragoza (Sandri), Iztel Navarro Vazquez (Sandri's Girl), Esteban De La Trinidad, Charles Paraventi, Carmen Salinas (Guardians), Rodrigo Zurita (Eighteen), Marizol Caly Mayor (Eighteen's Girlfriend), Hector Hernandez Zertuche (Chauffeur), Rene Campero (Father), Angelica Rosado (Mother), Norma Pablo (Reina Rosas), Georgina Gonzalez (Rayburn's Wife), Abraham Sandoval (Rayburn's Kid), Itati Cantoral (Evelyn), Jorge Zarate (Customs Official), Hugo Pelaez (Pedro), Alejandro Camps, Jorge Almada, Carlos Barada, Eduardo Yanes (Bodyguards).

PRODUCTION INFORMATION

DIRECTOR: Tony Scott (The Fan). WRITERS: Brian Helgeland, and based on the novel by A.J Quinnell. PRODUCERS: Lucas Foster, Arnon Milchan and Tony Scott. ASSOCIATE PRODUCER: Peter Toumasis. CO-PRODUCER: Conrad Hool. EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Lance Hool and James W. Skotchdopole. ORIGINAL MUSIC: Harry-Gregson Williams, Stephen Barton (additional music), Justin Caine Burnett (additional music), Toby Chu (additional music). DISTRIBUTOR: 20th Century Fox

QUOTES

Creasy: Forgiveness is between them and God. It's my job to arrange the meeting.

Rayburn: A man can be an artist in anything. Food...wine...it depends on how good he is at it. Creasy's art is death, and he's about to paint his masterpiece. Stay out of his way.

FACTS

RELEASE DATE: April 21st, 2004 (USA) DVD RELEASE DATE: September 14th, 2004 (USA) BOX OFFICE OPENING: $22.7 million (USA) BOX OFFICE RESULT: $77.8 million* (USA) BUDGET: $70 million (USA) SHOOTING DATES: March 2003 -- July 2003 - Tony Scott was originally slated to direct the original in the 1980s, but the studio balked because he had not had any hits and they felt he was not accomplished enough to pull off the project. - Michael Bay and Antoine Fuqua were offered the chances to direct this movie. Fuqua was already busy with production on King Arthur (2004). - Marlon Brando, Will Smith, Bruce Willis and Robert De Niro were offered the role of Creasy. - Denzel Washington was cast in this film because of a trip to a doctor. He ran into director Tony Scott in the waiting room of a medical office and the two men started chatting. Scott had not seen Washington in person since they worked together on Crimson Tide (1995). Scott happened to see Dakota Fanning in I Am Sam (2001) the night before and seeing Washington made Scott think of using the two actors together. - Creasy's quote about arranging a meeting between the kidnappers and God is originally attributed to General Norman Schwarzkopf, who said the same thing about terrorists. - Just before Creasy walks into the Rave Club, there's a brief break in the music where an audio sample from Requiem for a Dream (2000) can be heard. It's Christopher McDonald's character Tabby Tibbons saying, "We got a winner!"

Lisa: What are you going to do? Creasy: What I do best: I'm gonna kill 'em. Anyone who was involved, anyone who profited from it, anyone who opens their eyes at me.

[Creasy has rectally inserted a timer bomb on a five minute countdown into Fuentes] Fuentes: Wait! Last wish? Creasy: Last wish? I wish you had more time.

Pita: You have a girlfriend? Creasy: What kind of question is that? You're supposed to be studying history. Pita: It is history. Creasy history. Creasy: No, that's ancient history!

Creasy: I got all the time in the world. You don't, but I do.

Rayburn: He'll deliver more justice in a weekend than ten years of your courts and tribunals.

Rayburn: A bullet always tells the truth.

CRITICAL COMMENTS

"Brian Hegeland's script offers a trio of endings, a bit much for a movie that lasts nearly 2 1/2 hours." -- Robert Denerstein, Denver Rocky Mountain News

"If you idea of a bargain is two bad movies for the price of one, then shell out for Man on Fire." -- Rock Groen, Globe & Mail

"Think of it: Walken and Rourke in the same movie. That alone is worth the price of a ticket." -- Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Atlanta Journal- Constitution

"Punch drunk with sadism and sentimentality." -- Michael Booth, Denver Post

"A highly watchable action thriller with one big flaw: it feels like two different movies aimed at two different audiences." -- Paul Clinton, CNN

"A better-than-average example of a revenge flick." -- James Berardinelli, Reelviews