Incendiary Washington sizzles the screen

Rating: Null/10 (26 April 2004)

MAN ON FIRE (2004) **1/2 Denzel Washington, Dakota Fanning, Marc Anthony, Radha Mitchell, Christopher Walken, Giancarlo Giannini, Rachel Ticotin, Mickey Rourke, Jesus Ochoa. Washington stars as a former special ops named Creasy who attempts to battle his personal demons by working as a bodyguard for a wealthy Mexican businessman to protect his young daughter (the always wiser-than-her-years excellent Fanning) from a rash of kidnappings in Mexico City which ultimately tests Creasy when the inevitable occurs sending him on a one-man rampage for justifiable vengeance. Brutally violent and highly stylized signature director Tony Scott's excursion into the darker depths of one man's vendetta to overcome his shortcomings hangs a tad heavy but Washington as usual is solid and riveting while Walken provides able support. Brian Helgeland's screenplay adaptation of the story by A.J. Quinnell mixes some ingenious moments of retribution with stark open-eyed ruthlessness.