Like a Horrific Blaze, the Film Goes Up in Smoke.

Rating: Null/10 (2 June 2004)

A washed-up former Marine (Denzel Washington) with a terrible drinking problem and haunted by demons due to mistakes made in his past goes down to Mexico City to be a bodyguard to a young girl (Dakota Fanning). It seems that her well-to-do parents (Marc Anthony and Radha Mitchell) are scared to death of the recent surge in kidnappings within the city and are desperate to keep their daughter safe. Naturally Washington keeps himself at an arm's length from all those around him until Fanning is able to break his shell with her youthful kindness, friendliness and non-judgmental nature. An unmistakable bond develops between the two and when the duo is ambushed and Fanning is taken by a group of thugs (and Washington nearly killed himself), the only solution is for Washington to go after every individual that may have had something to do with the tragedy. Thus his old cold and menacing ways come back in full force in a "I'm gonna get you!"-styled revenge ploy. "Man on Fire" starts out well and hits a good stride when Washington and Fanning's relationship comes shining through, but her disappearance sends shock-waves to a production that was already walking dangerous territory. Director Tony Scott would rather dazzle with crazed camera shots and distracting elements like giving English subtitles when the characters are actually speaking English than going for the throat with character development and story background. The movie is literally on fire it seems as the entire screenplay (adapted by Brian Helgeland, who has done much better work with triumphs like "L.A. Confidential" and "Mystic River") thrives on chaos rather than coherence. Really the movie makes less sense as it progresses. Washington does all he can in the mess, but Fanning is truly the only notable point in the film (she helped turn "I Am Sam" into a minor success by splitting time with Sean Penn). When she is taken out of the picture, a tail-spin occurs that cannot be stopped. Good actors like Christopher Walken, Mickey Rourke, Rachel Tioctin and Giancarlo Giannini get lost in a dizzying maze of loud and empty film-making techniques. 2.5 out of 5 stars.