well, you make up your own minds.ĭenzel, of course, is one of the most successful actors of our time and has appeared in films as diverse as runaway train thriller Unstoppable which was also directed by Tony Scott, goofy sci-fi mystery Virtuosityand gritty crime drama Training Day, the last of which where he won his Best Actor Oscar. I've already mentioned Taken as another example of someone possibly going too far in a violent and memorable fashion but few go as far as Eric Draven in The Crow who not only comes back from the dead but whose cruel and unusual punishment for his killers is. Of course, not every vigilante goes as overboard as they do here - take the likes of Dirty Harrywhere Clint Eastwood's borderline-psychotic hero is a cop doing whatever he needs to get the job done. The vigilante is one character guaranteed to split an audience who will either approve of their actions or not.
It kinda feels like the entire enterprise was made because of contractual obligations - one wonders if Scott had grown less fond of the material in the years between his original attempt at making the film and the eventual outcome. It's a difficult film to enjoy and a harder one to like. If I wanted to see and hear about Mexicans killing and maiming each other then I would have turned on the news instead. There's little joy in the film to be found, even in the ending. If Y Tu Mamá Tambiénmade Mexico feel bright, inviting and mysterious then Man On Fire makes Mexico feel dirty and overpopulated by murderous criminals and lawless gangs. It doesn't help that the film is relentlessly bleak and oppressive despite the shimmering Mexican sunshine. It's a dirty, grubby tale of nasty people getting a violent comeuppance and to be honest, I wanted more. And as much as I like Washington, I never really invested myself into the story which doesn't feel that deep.
Call me old-fashioned but I prefer my heroes to be noble and honourable, not blood-thirsty butchers who maim first and ask questions later. Unfortunately, I'm not one of those people. It might take its time to get going but fans of this sort of stuff will get their sick kicks eventually. It almost feels more akin to the likes of Takenat times with fingers and other body parts seemingly chopped off for fun.
The film is a veritable cornucopia of torture scenes, shoot-outs and bloodied bad guys that actually leave a bitter taste in the mouth - this isn't the Denzel Washington we're used to. Throw in Scott's trademark assuredness with it comes to shooting action scenes and you'd be forgiven for thinking that this film is an outright winner. Alongside him, the young Fanning delivers a stunning performance as the vulnerable victim - dwarfing almost everything she's done since. The troubled Creasy could have been any action hero but Denzel does a fine job of portraying a desperate man doing desperate things. Washington is one of those rare actors that manage to captivate and hold your attention regardless of the quality of the film he finds himself in and Man On Fire is arguably one of his best performances.
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