
Overview
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.
Awards:
Main Cast & Crew:
Tony Scott - Director
Denzel Washington
Dakota Fanning
Radha Mitchell
Christopher Walken
Giancarlo Giannini
Gustavo Sanchez Parra
Gustavo Sánchez Parra
Jésus Ochoa
Marc Anthony
Rachel Ticotin
Details
- Format: DVD (Dubbed, Dolby, Digital Theater System, Widescreen)
- Run Time: 146
- Color Format: Color
- UPC: 024543139652
- Genre: ACTION / ADVENTURE
- Rating: R (MPAA) (language and strong violence)
- Release Date: September 2004

Movie Reviews
Reviews:
"[Fanning] turns Pita into a delightful, distinctive, self-possessed individual, likely the most mature youthful presence we'll see on screen all summer." - 04/21/2004 Los Angeles Times, p.C1
"[The director] gives us solid chemistry between Fanning and lead Denzel Washington, plus a more complex than expected characterization by Radha Mitchell..." - 04/23/2004 USA Today, p.7E
"We're absorbed by Washington's character." - 04/23/2004 Chicago Sun-Times, p.33
"MAN ON FIRE explodes with some beautifully orchestrated mayhem that's driven by a cast of fully realised characters." - 11/01/2004 Uncut, p.147
"Tony Scott directed this revenge fantasy from a sharp-witted script by Brian Helgeland." - 11/12/2010 Wall Street Journal