Set record because they don’t get much better than these.
Now that the summer blockbuster season is upon us, it’s time to revel in the bold, brash and balls-out stupidity of Hollywood’s big-budget features. Just like any other genre though, the best crime films resonate with you because of two things, character and story.
In those terms, it’s arguable that one of the most beloved films that manages to balance adrenaline-pumping action with intelligent characterisation is Man on Fire.
Hell, we previously wrote an extensive love letter to Tony Scott’s revenge epic because just like Creasy when he unleashed hell during his one-man war, the film is careful enough to develop its tone and mood “piece by piece, YOU UNDERSTAND ME! PIECE BY PIECE!”
For every bullet fired, henchman killed, and bomb lodged into the anus of a bad guy – “I wish, you had…more time” – the audience’s love for Denzel Washington’s character only grows because we know that Pita represented the only chance of hope, love and normality that Creasy had in his life.
Simply put, we’re 100% with Denzel as he starts f**king some shit up! It also helps that he’s just so damn cool.
As were told during the film: “Creasey’s art is death. He’s about to paint his masterpiece.” 14 years since its initial release, Man On Fire is still one of the most beautiful, brutal and bloody canvases that Hollywood has used for an action film.
If Denzel Washington’s epic quest for revenge was defined by the themes of family and friendship, it’s fair to say that Ben Affleck’s sophomore directorial feature, The Town, is a love letter to his hometown of Boston.
Aside from being treated to sweeping views of the city, an epic shootout at Fenway Park, and a look at the dangerous corners of Charlestown, Affleck manages to populate his film with excellent characters and even better performances.
In many ways, The Town is a classic gangster/heist film that’s fast-paced and character-driven but Affleck is clever enough to combine the robberies with romance.
This being said, the performances are excellent with a special mention going to Jeremy Renner because his character, James, has the manic and menacing aura of a bomb that’s about to explode – the actor picked up an Oscar nomination for the role.
In a film that’s brimming with memorable action set-pieces, kudos to Ben Affleck for making the best scene in the whole film revolve around a tattoo. Trust us, if you’ve got any nerves left after that cafe scene then you’ll be doing well.
As fans of crime films will know, the ‘one last job and then I’m out’ plot line has been used to death but Affleck overcomes the inherent problems of it by getting the very best from his cast in an absolutely electric heist film.
In case you don’t have any plans tonight, The Town airs on 3E at 22:05 while Man On Fire starts on Film4 at 23:35.
Clips via – Legendary and 20th Century Fox
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