Punch drunk with sadism and sentimentality.
Man on Fire (2004)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:153
Fresh:59
Rotten:94
Average Rating:5.2/10
Consensus: Man on Fire starts out well, but goes over the top in the violent second half.
Rated: 18 [See Full Rating] for language and strong violence
Runtime: 2 hrs 26 mins
Genre: Action/Adventure
Theatrical Release:08-10-2004
Synopsis: John Creasy (Denzel Washington) is a lost soul. A former government operative, he has become an alcoholic nomad, searching for inspiration and redemption. An old friend (Christopher Walken) who... John Creasy (Denzel Washington) is a lost soul. A former government operative, he has become an alcoholic nomad, searching for inspiration and redemption. An old friend (Christopher Walken) who lives in Mexico gets Creasy a job as a bodyguard for nine-year-old Lupita "Pita" Ramos (Dakota Fanning), the daughter of Mexican Samuel (Marc Anthony) and his American wife Lisa (Radha Mitchell). Creasy's primary job is to protect Pita from the kidnapping attempts that are an increasing menace to the children of Mexico City's wealthy. A man of few words and many secrets, Creasy initially balks at Pita's attempts to befriend him, but soon a bond grows between the precocious child and this lonely man who is tormented by his past. When Pita is kidnapped despite Creasy's valiant attempts to save her, he will do anything to bring all of those involved to justice. His fury unravels a net of almost unimaginable corruption and greed in the process. Director Tony Scott (TOP GUN, CRIMSON TIDE) builds the relationship between Creasy and Pita in the first half of the film in order to justify Creasy's violent actions in the latter half, and in the process he does a fine job of keeping the film's tension consistently high. [More]
Starring: Denzel Washington, Dakota Fanning, Radha Mitchell, Christopher Walken
Starring: Denzel Washington, Dakota Fanning, Radha Mitchell, Christopher Walken, Giancarlo Giannini, Marc Anthony, Rachel Ticotin, Mickey Rourke
Director: Tony Scott
Director: Tony Scott
Screenwriter: Brian Helgeland
Producer: Lucas Foster, Arnon Milchan, Tony Scott
Composer: Harry Gregson-Williams
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Reviews for Man on Fire
A highly watchable action thriller with one big flaw: It feels like two different movies aimed at two different audiences.
Tony Scott's Man on Fire employs superb craftsmanship and a powerful Denzel Washington performance in an attempt to elevate genre material above its natural level, but it fails.
Man on Fire is as ludicrous as John Q, Virtuosity and Out of Time, yet substantially more violent, artificial, self-conscious and dull.
With Man on Fire, Scott has literally blown the roof off his own indulgence, going so far over the top that even longtime defenders may begin to question his judgment.
...based on its ratio of production costs to quality alone, [Man on Fire] may prove to be the worst movie of 2004.
a potentially absorbing thriller that Tony Scott demolishes with hundreds of unnecessarily arty effects... take along the extra-strength pain reliever of your choice...
That Creasy finds his motivation in the exploitation of American white girls by dark-skinned enemies is a complication this movie can't begin to outline.
Rampant with religious symbolism, and fueled by ... vigilante subtext, audiences will be hard-pressed to find another film this year which pushes any of the same hot buttons.
[T]he definitive sign that we have entered a new era of harsh vigilante brutality passing for entertainment.
Maybe the film should be called Man on Fire Whose Bleeding Gunshot Wounds Won't Stop Him.
For all of its 2 1/2 -hour running time, Man on Fire plays more like Man on Low Simmer.
Denzel Washington is walking death in Tony Scott's showy but chillingly real revenge film.
State-of-the-art Hollywood production...Unfortunately, it also represents the nadir of Hollywood pandering to audience tastes for ever more titillating violence.
Unlike the recent comic book adaptation, The Punisher, Creasy doesn’t waste time and when he puts on his avenging wings WATCH OUT because he is going to PUNISH!
Such a talent pool on both sides of the camera makes much of Man on Fire well worth watching.
Washington's charisma and Fanning's old-soul charm hoist this revenge film above the rest.
The problem mainly comes when Man on Fire's vindictive rush starts to fade, leaving time to think about what's onscreen.
Latest News for Man on Fire
May 20, 2009:
Fox International Targets Local Markets ![]()
Looking to drum up new(ish) streams of international income, Fox is planning Russian and Japanese versions of library titles such as "Man on Fire" and "Working Girl." More...
September 24, 2007:
Denzel, Tony Scott to Take Pelham One Two Three
Pelham is about to be taken again -- and Denzel Washington and Tony Scott are doing the taking. More...
May 21, 2007:
Four Directors Up for the Next "Bond" Flick?
Curious to know who'll be directing the next James Bond flick? Join the club. One source has a short list of potential helmers, all of whom would be pretty ... distinctive. More...
November 21, 2006:
Critical Consensus: "Halls" Spreads Little Cheer; "Déjà Vu" Intrigues; "The Fountain" Overflows; "Pick" Is Mixed
This week at the movies, we've got holiday mischief ("Deck the Halls," starring Matthew Broderick and Danny DeVito), a phenomenon known as déjà vu ("Déjà... More...
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