this comment do contain spoiler . there be few actor that have an intangible to them . that innate quality which be an amalgamation of charisma and panache and swagger . it the quality that can separate good actor from the truly great . i think george clooney have it and so do jack nicholson . you can look at clooney subtle touch in scene like his one word good bye to andy garcia in ocean 11 when they just utter each other name disdainfully . terry . danny . you can pick any number of jack performance date a far back a five easy piece in the diner to a few good men and his court room interrogation scene . these guy just have it . you can add denzel washington to the small and exclusive list of actor who exude that terrific trait in everything he do . if you look at some of his explosive borderline diatribe in the siege to his impressive tribute to malcolm x in spike lee film of the same name and you can see that there be no finer an actor work today . i do not mention all of this to insinuate that man on fire be perfect just because of denzel work and but he be definitely the cog of the production . i be literally mesmerize with some of his scene that be raw and emotional and incendiary all at the same time . washington play creasy a former spy or cia agent or one of those covert government operative . he have pretty much hit rock bottom a he have become disillusion with the life that he have lead . he have kill and perhaps do thing that be best left unsaid and this have make him a harden and bitter man . his friend and perhaps mentor and play very reservedly by christopher walken and be live in mexico make a very comfortable living by provide body guard service for the rich . apparently the kidnapping business in mexico be so vibrant that these pay former s. e. a. l. s and such can do very well while provide a needed service . creasey need the work and accept a job with a well to do family who seem to be in some financial difficulty . marc anthony be fine a samuel and radha mitchell be tantalizingly sexy a his wife lisa and dakota fanning be just unbelievably and precociously brilliant a pita . i do not know how a child of her age can have such range to play the character that she do but her interpretation of pita be nothing short of oscar worthy . the film entire first half be dependent on the relationship between pita and creasy and if there be a weak actress in the role and perhaps that emotional synergy would not have come across so succinctly . but fan be nothing short of remarkable in the role . it be the relationship between pita and creasy that drive this film to the apex of cinema . together they be perfect and there be a real bond develop between them . tony scott directs with a frenetic urgency and his eye for visual flare have never be well . i be interested to see how his next film and domino and turn out . i think scott be one of today under rat director and with more film like this one and his name will surely be elevate to icon status . the story have creasy really take to pita and and vi ca versa . there be a definite connection between the two of them and perhaps it stem from the fact that although pita love her dad and he be not around much . he be a philanthropist and obviously have little time to spend with his family . soon and creasy be take pita to her swim competition . he be read her bedtime story and she be name her teddy bear creasy . it not just a friendship between them and it be more of a kinship and and a deep parental love seem to be present . the film change gear when pita do get kidnap and hold for ransom and creasy be be almost fatally injured try to protect her . this be where the story become thick with innuendo and ripe with deceit a the plot piece get unravel like an onion . and this be where denzel become a tour de force . like i say earlier and i have see denzel give some outstanding performance in film like crimson tide and training day and but never have i see him like this . he be a man possess and with the possibility of pita be dead and he become a literal man on fire . it rag in him a he hunt down and dish out his brand of comeuppance . denzel anger and acerbity be ubiquitous and not easily quell a he hunt down each person responsible for pita violation . this all vigilante justice a the mexican authority always seem to be one step behind . also what be paramount to this film audacious brilliance be that there be few film that actually give the criminal their due comeuppance . i have often be frustrate to watch film where the bad guy get let off easily . they inflict all kind of torment for the entire film and then they take a bullet and die . but not in this film . writer brian helgeland see to it that retribution here be unequivocal and it be painful . the perpetrator here feel creasy wrath and they experience the torment that he unleash . there be nothing gimmicky about his brand of justice . he need information and someone lose a finger . he want answer and a homemade bomb be place in place that be mean for other thing . there be no punch pull here and this be one of the true strength of the film . man on fire be one the five best film of 2004. now that it be out on dvd and my recommendation be to get the se . it be load with bonus feature that include about 6 hour of documentary and different commentary track . positive .