Denzel Washington Thriller On Amazon Gives Academy Award Winner One Of His Best Roles
If you’ve been a fan of Denzel Washington for some time, you’ve no doubt seen the captivating thespian take on a wide array of intense roles. While his performances in action thrillers like Training Day and the Equalizer trilogy are nothing short of exceptional, one of Washington’s finest performances comes in the 2004 film Man On Fire, which is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Man On Fire was reviewed harshly by critics upon release for its graphic violence and rapid-fire pacing, though audiences at large have since hailed the film as a cult classic.
The Second Adaptation Of The Novel
Man On Fire was written by 42 filmmaker Brian Helgeland and directed by Top Gun filmmaker Tony Scott, in one of many collaborations with Denzel Washington. The story was adapted from a 1980 novel of the same name written by English author A.J. Quinnell and serves as the second adaptation of the source material after a 1987 iteration starring Scott Glenn and Joe Pesci.
The 2004 version of Man On Fire sees a few well-placed changes made to the original novel’s plot, including relocating the setting from Naples, Italy to Mexico City.
The Plot
The narrative of Man On Fire sees Denzel Washington’s former CIA officer John Creasy taking on a simple bodyguard position for a wealthy Mexico City-based automotive manufacturer. Despite his private struggles with alcoholism and depression, Creasy takes on the role, which requires him to keep a watchful eye on his employer’s young daughter, Pita.
Over the course of the film’s first act, Creasy progressively learns to take his bodyguard role more seriously, as he develops genuine feelings of affection for the little girl, and even teaches her how to swim while her parents are too busy.
The Kidnapping
Of course, the feel-good aspects of Man On Fire come to a screeching halt when Pita is kidnapped by a gang of organized criminals with local police officers on their payroll. Creasy manages to fight off several of the attackers before Pita is taken, though he is ultimately injured in the ensuing gunfight. As Man On Fire continues building to a head-smashing festival of explosions, Creasy shoots, stabs, kills, and pipe bombs his way through the gang in a John Wick-esque crusade for justice.
One Of The Best Action Thrillers Out There
Man On Fire received largely negative reviews from critics upon release despite garnering universal praise for Denzel Washington‘s performance. Today, the film touts a paltry 39 percent critic score on Rotten Tomatoes. Still, general audiences tend to have a significantly more favorable view of the movie, resulting in an 89 percent score on the Popcornmeter.
Personally, I’d put Man On Fire right up against John Wick or the Equalizer franchise, as one of the best action thrillers of its time.
Streaming On Amazon
REVIEW SCORE
Those looking to check this film out today and make their own decision are welcome to stream Man On Fire on Amazon Prime Video today. Just be prepared to see some truly gnarly depictions of graphic violence, as the film has no interest in coddling the child kidnapping gang with easy deaths.
