MAN ON FIRE [2004 / 2015] [New Box Art] [Blu-ray] [USA Release]
Magnificent. . . Keeps You On The Edge Throughout! Explosive, Exhilarating, Essential!
Two-time ACADEMY AWARDS® Winner Denzel Washington ignites a masterpiece of mayhem in this “powerful” action thriller. [Los Angeles Times] Hard-drinking, burned-out CIA operative John W. Creasy [Denzel Washington] has given up on life – until his friend Paul Rayburn [Christopher Walken OSCAR® Winner] gets him a job as a bodyguard to a nine-year old Pita Ramos [Dakota Fanning]. Bit by bit, John Creasy begins to reclaim his soul, but when Pita Ramos is kidnapped, John W. Creasy fiery rage is released and he will stop at nothing to save her.
FILM FACT No1: Awards and Nominations: 2004 Golden Schmoes Awards: Nomination: Best Supporting Actress of the Year for Dakota Fanning. 2005 BMI Film & TV Awards: Win: BMI Film Music Award for Harry Gregson-Williams. 2005 Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards: Nomination: Best Young Actress for Dakota Fanning. 2005 Golden Trailer Awards: Nomination: Best Action for trailer C. Nomination: Best Drama for trailer B. 2005 Image Awards: Nomination: Outstanding Motion Picture. Nomination: Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture for Denzel Washington. 2005 Young Artist Awards: Nomination: Best Performance in a Feature Film for a Leading Young Actress for Dakota Fanning.
FILM FACT No2: The real John W. Creasy, is a former CIA operative and former Force Recon Marine officer and now a mercenary. Daniel Rosas Sánchez “The Voice” is based on a real kidnapper, Daniel Arizmendi López. Just like the real Daniel Arizmendi López, he believes in Santa Muerte. Nuestra Señora de la Santa Muerte or, colloquially, Santa Muerte (Spanish for Holy Death), is a female folk saint venerated primarily in Mexico and the Southwestern United States. Tony Scott, the film’s director, had tried to adapt the 1980 source novel, by A. J. Quinnell, into a film in 1983. Journalist Paul Davies theorized that film producers likely believed that Tony Scott, whose only directorial work was 1983’s ‘The Hunger,’ lacked the experience to direct this as his second film. The novel was first adapted into the 1987 film Man on Fire, starring Scott Glenn as Creasy. This film, like the novel, was set in Italy, then a major centre of kidnapping.
Cast: Denzel Washington, Dakota Fanning, Radha Mitchell, Christopher Walken, Marc Anthony, Giancarlo Giannini, Mickey Rourke, Rachel Ticotin, Gustavo Sánchez Parra, Jesús Ochoa, Gero Camilo, Mario Zaragoza, Charles Paraventi, Carmen Salinas, Esteban De La Trinidad, Angelina Peláez, Norma Pablo, Rosa María Hernández, Heriberto Del Castillo, Steve Gonzales, Andres Pardave, Hector Hernandez Zertuche, Georgina González, Abraham Sandoval, Jorge Victoria, Ariane Pellicer, Jorge Picont, Alberto Estrella, Gerardo Taracena, Elvira Richards, Javier Zaragoza, Enrique Cimet, Sparkle, Dunia Alvarez, Beatriz Pina, Hector Tagle, Rubén Santana, Fernando Berzosa, Eduardo Rivera, Victor De Pascual, Norma Martínez, Jorge Merlo, Fernando Arvizu, Ghalil Elhateb Estrada, Hugo Genesio, Gonzalo Alvarez, Ofelia Aguirre (uncredited), Rossana Fuentes (uncredited), Adrian Grunberg (uncredited), Jorge Guerrero (uncredited), Berenice Manjarrez (uncredited), Fernando Moya (uncredited), Stacy Perskie (uncredited), Manuel Poncelis (uncredited), Raul Zermeño (uncredited) and Jorge Zárate (uncredited)
Director: Tony Scott (21 June 1944 – 19 August 2012)
Producers: Arnon Milchan, Conrad Hool, Don Ferrarone, James W. Skotchdopole, Lance Hool, Lucas Foster, Peter Toumasis and Tony Scott
Screenplay: Brian Helgeland (screenplay) and A. J. Quinnell (novel)
Composer: Harry Gregson-Williams
Cinematography: Paul A. Cameron, A.S.C. (Director of Photography)
Image Resolution: 1080p
Aspect Ratio: 2.40:1
Audio: English: 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
French: 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround
Spanish: 5.1 Dolby Surround
Subtitles: English SDH, Spanish, Cantonese and Korean
Running Time: 146 minutes
Region: Region A/1
Number of discs: 1
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Andrew’s Blu-ray Review: ‘MAN ON FIRE’ is an uncompromising look at the effects of kidnapping in Latin America. It is also a heartfelt character study about the relationship between a young girl Lupita Ramos [Dakota Fanning] and her bodyguard John W. Creasy [Denzel Washington]. The film represents at the time a new direction for flashy action auteur Tony Scott, whose other hard-hitting films includes ‘Spy Game’ and ‘Enemy of the State.’
The film opens with subtitles explaining that “a person is kidnapped every sixty seconds in Latin America, and only 70% are likely to survive.” We witness an everyday businessman being dragged off of the street from his wife and into a getaway car, held for ransom, and finally returned to his family in the middle of a freeway, nearly naked, and physically damaged, which I will not elaborate on the violent details. The continued wave of kidnappings leads a couple Samuel Ramos [Marc Anthony] and Lisa Ramos [Radha Mitchell] worried about their only child, Lupita Ramos, to enlist the protection of an ex-government operative named John W. Creasy, who is haunted by his previous crimes against man and spends his days drinking his life away, eventually he reluctantly accepts the job.
Every day, John W. Creasy drives Pita Ramos to school, and totally uninterested in her or her interest in John W. Creasy. Eventually, John W. Creasy warms to the young girl because of her smart but somewhat innocent nature. As their relationship grows stronger, so does John W. Creasy will to live. One day, as Pita Ramos is coming out of the building where Pita Ramos has just attended her piano practice, but suddenly Pita Ramos is abducted, and John W. Creasy is shot several times by the abductors and left for dead. When John W. Creasy awakens, he begins investigating the kidnapping and unleashing his wrath on those responsible their unholy attack on civil liberties and especially kidnapping Pita Ramos.
‘MAN ON FIRE’ does not dish out angry revenge clichés, but ‘MAN ON FIRE’ takes its time and builds a case, allowing the first act to focus on the growing strong bond between John W. Creasy and Pita Ramos. The viewer comes to appreciate why John W. Creasy is so hell-bent on destroying those who took his ward Pita Ramos. ‘MAN ON FIRE’ is a moral drama about replacing an unacceptable evil with one that is acceptable. Though John W. Creasy is wanted by the police for his wave of destruction, John W. Creasy fills his void that the girl’s kidnapping have created. Denzel Washington is back to his old stomping ground where he returns to playing a multi-layered character who must not only overcome obstacles, but his own demons. Though he is tormented by the loss of Pita Ramos, he still takes pleasure in exacting his justified vengeance.
What I really liked about ‘MAN ON FIRE’ is the over-directed and chaotic scenes that gives you a good adrenalin rush and especially where the visuals shifts with dramatic moves from slow-motion to emphasise key scenes and then goes into the ultra-hyperactive camera actions, to really make you feel you are involved with the action that is happening on the screen. Some people have criticised the strange use of subtitling and sometimes having the dialogue spoken in English and subtitled at the same time; and many of the words are often flashed on the screen, blown up three times the size, and uses devices to emphasise those very words. But the reason for that is because the Mexican actors have very strong Latin accents that sometimes you cannot quite understand what they are saying, but despite this, it still worked for me.
Denzel Washington was perfect for the role of John W. Creasy, who is believable as both the “nice guy” and the “bad guy,” all rolled into one character. You buy into his character whether he is joking with the little girl Pita Ramos or he is cutting the fingers off of a man he is interrogating. Not many actors could pull that off, but Denzel Washington does. John W. Creasy is a complex character full of contrasting sides. John W. Creasy is a born again Christian but also a cold-blooded assassin, but the same time he feels suicidal, but then realises he is also capable of being a father figure. That makes his personality and his dark history all the more interesting. Dakota Fanning supports Denzel Washington and both are very talented and it shows on the screen. Dakota Fanning displays a good mixture of maturity and childishness that makes her seem like an average kid that John W. Creasy could grow fond of. Playing Pita’s parents are Marc Anthony (yes, the famous Latin singer) and Radha Mitchell [‘Pitch Black’]. Both are excellent and play their roles with the right amount of anguish. Giancarlo Giannini [‘Hannibal’] and Rachel Ticotin [‘Total Recall’] are also excellent as the Mexican police and reporter on the trail of the kidnappers.
The music in the film is an eclectic mix of tunes that works so perfect with the film. At times it sounds like Hans Zimmer’s ‘Gladiator’ soundtrack. At other times there are bizarre remixes of Linda Ronstadt songs. Then later it switches to Mexican guitar music. It all comes together to give the brilliant action-packed film a unique sound experience. One bizarre moment I’ll never forget is when John W. Creasy is torturing a man and a Mexican version of “Hey Mickey” is playing on the radio and it was totally surreal at times, but I feel this added to make the whole experience that the actors are also experiencing in the film.
‘MAN ON FIRE’ is still a brilliant rousing, furious action-drama. Most importantly, the hero is a man we want to get out there and do his job without any interference. His intentions become the hopes of the viewer, and when he gets the job done, we have every reason to cheer. If John W. Creasy, a man whose profession is murder, and Tony Scott, who has never shown heart in his storytelling, can both be redeemed this time round, then the film is as much about the power of redemption as is it is about vengeance. Top marks for a job well done for all involved with the film.
MAN ON FIRE MUSIC TRACK LIST
THE MARK HAS BEEN MADE (Written by Trent Reznor) [Performed by Nine Inch Nails]
THE WRETCHED (Version) (Written by Trent Reznor) [Performed by Nine Inch Nails]
LE NEGRA (Written by Rubén Fuentes and Silvestre Vargas) [Performed by Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán]
PRELUDE in B Minor, Op. 28, No. 6 (Written by Frédéric Chopin)
BLUE BAYOU (Written by Joe Melson and Roy Orbison) [Performed by Linda Ronstadt]
THE ART OF SELF DESTRUCTION, PART ONE (Written by Trent Reznor) [Performed by Nine Inch Nails]
THE DOWNWARD SPIRAL (The Bottom) (Written by Trent Reznor) [Performed by Nine Inch Nails]
THE ART OF SELF DESTRUCTION, PART TWO (Written by Trent Reznor) [Performed by Nine Inch Nails]
THE GREAT BELOW (Written by Trent Reznor) [Performed by Nine Inch Nails]
FIELD-GOAL (Written by Carlos Alberto Cháirez, Joaquin Ulises Lozano, Juan Omar Góngora and Augustin Gilberto Cerezo) [Performed by Kinky]
CLAIR DE LUNE (Written by Claude Debussy)
GUADALAJARA (Written by Pepe Guízar)
NOCTURNE No. 4 in F, Op. 15, No. 1 (Written by Frédéric Chopin)
GAVIN LEAVES MESSAGE (from film ‘Changing Lanes’) (2002) (uncredited) (Written by David Arnold) (Courtesy of Paramount Pictures)
CORRIDOR (from film ‘Changing Lanes’) (2002) (uncredited) (Written by David Arnold) (Courtesy of Paramount Pictures)
GAVIN SEES VAL AND KIDS (from film ‘Changing Lanes’) (2002) (uncredited) (Written by David Arnold) (Courtesy of Paramount Pictures)
FOLLOW ME DOWN (from film ‘Abandon’) (2002) (uncredited) (Written by Clint Mansell) (Courtesy of Paramount Pictures)
KATIE SNOW DREAM (from film ‘Abandon’) (2002) (uncredited) (Written by Clint Mansell) (Courtesy of Paramount Pictures)
EMBRY THREATENS (from film ‘Abandon’) (2002) (uncredited) (Written by Clint Mansell) (Courtesy of Paramount Pictures)
TAKE ME WITH YOU (from film ‘Abandon’) (2002) (uncredited) (Written by Clint Mansell) (Courtesy of Paramount Pictures)
OYE COMO VA (Written by Tito Puente) [Performed by Kinky]
MICKEY (Written by Mike Chapman and Nicky Chinn) [Performed by Toni Basil]
RAZZLE DAZZLE (Written by Werner Tautz) [Performed by Werner Tautz]
NESSUN DORMA from Turandot (Written by Giacomo Puccini, Giuseppe Adami and Renato Simoni) [Performed by Luciano Pavarotti with the Orchestra del Teatro Arena di Verona, conducted by Armando Gatto]
MAS (Written by Augustin Gilberto Cerezo, Carlos Alberto Cháirez, Juan Omar Góngora and Joaquin Ulises Lozano) [Performed by Kinky]
DEEDRAH RELOAD (GMS Remix) (Written by Frederic Holysweski) [Performed by Deedrah] (Contains a sample of "380 Volts." Written and Performed by The S.U.N. Project. Also contains a sample of "The Rush." Written by Riktam, Bansi and Chicago. Performed by Zorba)
JUICE (Live Mix) (Written by Riktam and Bansi) [Performed by GMS] (Contains Dialogue from ‘Requiem for a Dream’ (2000) Courtesy of Lionsgate Films, Inc.)
GMS vs ALIEN PROJECT (Written by Riktam, Bansi and Ari) [Performed by GMS]
BRING OUT THE GIMP (Written by Riktam and Bansi) [Performed by GMS]
HELL-BENT (Written by Baby Doc & S-J) [Performed by Baby Doc & S-J]
PREMAJOR (Written by Russell Emanuel, Mark Lawrence Levinson, Brian Taylor aka Massive/Power/Strike) [Performed by Russell Emanuel, Mark Lawrence Levinson, Brian Taylor aka Massive/Power/Strike]
UNA PALABRA (Written by Carlos Varela) [Performed by Carlos Varela]
THE SEARCH (from film ‘Against All Odds’) (1984) (uncredited) (Written by Michel Colombier) [Performed by Larry Carlton and Michel Colombier] (Courtesy of Columbia Pictures)
CREASY DIES (Written by Harry Gregson-Williams and Lisa Gerrard) [Performed by Lisa Gerrard]
Blu-ray Image Quality – ‘MAN ON FIRE’ is presented in a brilliant and stunning 1080p image presentation that perfectly replicates Tony Scott's fast action visuals. Colours are so rich and lush and the palette may seem oversaturated at times, but it never wavers or appears unstable. Black levels are incredibly deep, and the contrast is rock steady. Better still, detail is sharp and very natural; especially the skin texture, clothing fibres, and stubble look crisp and three dimensional. Just take one look at the scene in the Dakota Fanning bedroom. Take notice the book titles in the background, the stitching on the bed linens, and the trinkets at her bedside and every detail pops out, making this one of the most accurate presentations I've seen. It will certainly wow fans of this film and catch the eye of any newcomer sampling it for the first time.
Blu-ray Audio Quality – ‘MAN ON FIRE’ features an awesome aggressive 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio Surround track that does a brilliant job in reproducing both the roar of the pandemonium that happens throughout the dramatic film and also the subtleties of whisper voices of the actors. While the film’s first act offers mostly quiet ambiance and crisp conversations, chaos quickly moves in to dominate the sound field, making dynamics of the star of ‘MAN ON FIRE.’ We get brilliant commanding rumbles that mingle with balanced treble tones to produce a natural and powerful sound field. When I felt the impact of gunshots or explosions in the centre of my chest, I knew this track will give your Home Cinema AV receiver a good workout. Moreover, I was totally impressed with the number of individual elements present in the rear speakers and the sound designers managed to hurl immersive acoustics and explosive sounds across the back of my home theatre set-up throughout the awesome film. But most importantly the film's natural soundscape and stirring dynamics continually made me forget that I was watching ‘MAN ON FIRE.’
Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:
Theatrical Trailers: ‘Man On Fire’ [2004] [1080p] [2.40:1] [2:54]; ‘The Sentinel’ [2006] [1080p] [2.40:1] [2:00]; ‘Mr. & Mrs. Smith’ [2005] [1080p] [2.40:1] [2:26] and ‘Entrapment’ [1999] [1080p] [2.40:1] [1:58].
Post Script: The Collector's Edition DVD was released in 2005 and featured a documentary, featurettes, deleted scenes, and much more. This is a massive disappointment for fans of this film, and one that leads me to believe we'll be seeing another high definition edition of 'MAND ON FIRE' in the future, but I hope not, as there have been far too many Blu-ray releases of this film. When will studios learn these lazy manoeuvres only serve to alienate fans and reduce the value of an otherwise exceptional Blu-ray disc?
Finally, ‘MAN ON FIRE’ is one of those rare brilliant films that comes out of nowhere and really surprises you. While at the same time it might not be a film for everyone, it is still an engrossing tale of revenge that is well worth checking out. What a refreshing rarity that is for a Hollywood film that has an ending that is a strong parallel to the kind of love we all wish for and it is really beautiful performances from everyone, but although it is also tragic ay times, but it is also equally redemptive. The message we get out of the film is that we cannot count on the authorities to help us and that sometimes vigilante justice is our only recourse. The final hour of ‘MAN ON FIRE’ is a violent experimental film in its own right; the camera spins and crash zooms wildly. The editing, machine gun quick, cuts between colour, black and white and strobe effects. Subtitles dance across the screen, sometimes cutting straight through the middle of the frame. Music jumps in and out, utilising disparate genres and artists, from Nine Inch Nails to Tony Basil. But as it stands, the ‘MAN ON FIRE’ of 2004 is an intriguing film, one that plays directly into Scott’s strengths, but also flings wildly into almost every direction at once. Somehow, through sheer act of craft, the experiment works. ‘MAN ON FIRE’ is an extremely important film in Tony Scott’s filmography and one that deserves more recognition as a turning point in his career as one of the true masters of action cinema. Very Highly Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
