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Man on Fire

2004 ยท 146 min ยท movie
โญ 7.7 (422,450 votes)

An 18-year-old boy and his girlfriend walk home from church. The boy gets abducted and then stripped naked. When the boy's family paid the ransom, he was dumped on a highway with an ear cut off.

In December 2003, former Force-Recon Marine and CIA SAD/SOG officer John Creasy travels to Mexico to visit his old friend Paul Rayburn, who convinces him to take a bodyguard position with Samuel Ramos, a wealthy Mexico City automaker. He needs protection for his young daughter, Lupita "Pita" Ramos, due to a kidnapping insurance policy that requires a bodyguard to be in place.

Struggling with alcoholism and guilt from his past, Creasy attempts suicide with his own handgun, but a failed 9mm primer prompts him to eject the round, preserve it, and reconsider his fate. Revitalized by the thought that he is meant to live, he takes on his role as Pita's protector, reducing his drinking and finding solace in the Bible. As he bonds with the child, coaching her competitive swimming, their relationship flourishes.

One day, while waiting outside Pita's piano lesson, Creasy recognizes a car that has been following them. As two federal policemen block the street, he realizes Pita is about to be kidnapped. Creasy engages the attackers, killing four but sustaining serious injuries while Pita is abducted.

As authorities investigate, Creasy becomes a suspect, but Reforma reporter Mariana Garcia Guerrero questions the narrative. Federal police officer Miguel Manzano relocates him to a veterinary clinic to protect him from corrupt officials.

The kidnappers, led by the unseen "Voice", demand a $10 million ransom, which Samuel complies with, aided by Police Lieutenant Victor Fuentes. However, when the ransom drop is ambushed and the Voice's nephew is killed, the Voice threatens the Ramos family, stating that it is "too late" and Pita will be lost forever as retribution. Manzano warns Creasy about the powerful "brotherhood" involved, composed of corrupt officials and criminals, and Creasy vows to kill everyone connected to the kidnapping.

With Rayburn's help, Creasy assembles an arsenal and begins his quest for revenge. He brutally interrogates the getaway driver for information, leading him to confront several kidnappers and recover incriminating evidence. Garcia Guerrero discovers Fuentes's involvement in the brotherhood, prompting her and Manzano to assist Creasy in his mission. Creasy's rampage intensifies as he confronts Fuentes, learning that Samuel's lawyer, Jordan Kalfus, orchestrated the kidnapping to claim insurance money.

Creasy arrives to confront Kalfus at his house but finds the lawyer's beheaded corpse floating in the pool. He then confronts Samuel about his involvement with the kidnapping and the ruse is revealed: Samuel and Kalfus agreed to orchestrate the kidnapping in order to pay off old debts belonging to the former's father. Both had expected Lupita to be safely returned by paying off the ransom with the remaining insurance money. However, the ambush by Fuentes caused the plan to collapse, with Samuel killing Kalfus in a rage. Despondent over this revelation, Creasy gives Samuel a gun and the bullet he once used in his suicide attempt. Samuel kills himself as Creasy leaves.

Garcia Guerrero and Manzano trace the ransom money and uncover the Voice's identity. Creasy captures the Voice's brother, who shoots him during the melee. Creasy learns the ringleader's real name is Daniel Sanchez. They arrange an exchange for Pita, and during the meeting, Creasy, injured but determined, reassures her of his love before she is sent to safety. As Creasy is taken away to the Voice, he dies of his injuries en route; later that day, Manzano executes the Voice during the latter's arrest.

Directed by

Tony Scott

Starring

Denzel Washington
Radha Mitchell
Dakota Fanning
Giancarlo Giannini
Christopher Walken
Mickey Rourke
Rachel Ticotin
Marc Anthony