A Scientist at the Movies Reviews by Greg Paris

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Title: Man on Fire

Date of original theatrical release: 2004

Details:

Denzel Washington

Dakota Fanning

Marc Anthony

Radha Mitchell

Christopher Walken

Giancarlo Giannini

Director: Tony Scott

Score: 1/2

The Review: ...bortaS bIr jablu'DI'reH QaQqu' nay'... ("Revenge is a dish best served cold."), ancient Klingon proverb.

It doesn't sound very attractive to live in Latin America, if the lead-in to Man on Fire is accurate: "There's one kidnapping in Latin America every 60 minutes." And even this statistic pales next to the update for Mexico City provided by the precocious young girl (Fanning) whom Denzel Washington's character is hired to protect. But he's not at the top of his form -- bourbon and ennui figure prominently as excuses -- even though his public resume (to the extent CIA assassins have resumes?) looks great. So, formulaic as it seems, trouble comes a-courting, and the action starts in earnest. Relentless and bloody just about sums it up.

Good vibes between Fanning and Washington, and Mitchell as the mother is easy on the eyes. Washington tries to play Creasy as a moderately complex personality, but whatever depth might be there flattens as the plot advances. A few twists keep your interest up, and keep this from sinking in the mire of neutrality.

Washington is a damn good actor, but in the past few years has selected some really ugly (or at least stupid) characters to play, especially in Out of Time, John Q, and Training Day. Creasy is not the worst of the bunch, but he is not a highly motivational guy, unless you are motivated by revenge or happen to end up on the wrong end of his quest.

(5-Jan-05)

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