FIRE WITH FIRE

US, 2012, 90 minutes, Colour.
Josh Duhamel, Bruce Willis, Rosario Dawson, Vincent’ D’ Onofrio, Vinnie Jones, Kevin Dunn, 50 Cent. Julian Mc Mahon, Richard Schiff.
Directed by David Barrett.

Fire with Fire is a typical action thriller with a vigilante plot. Josh Duhamel is a loner, a firefighter, who witnesses a brutal murder by a racist gang in Long Beach. He escapes, is wounded, gives information to the police, is put in witness protection in New Orleans. There he falls in love with the marshal in charge of him, played by Rosario Dawson. When she is threatened, he breaks free of the constraints and returns to Long Beach for vengeance.

Bruce Willis plays the detective in charge who has a personal interest in the criminal being brought to justice. Vincent D’ Onofrio gives a chilling performance as the racist gang leader and murderer. There is an interesting supporting cast including Richard Schiff as the defence lawyer, Kevin Dunn as the head of the New Orleans’ branch, and a fairly ridiculous performance from Vinnie Jones as one of the henchmen.
The film was directed by David Barrett, whose career was mainly in action and effects.

1. An American crime thriller? The reality of gangs? Aryan and racist gangs? Black gangs in Long Beach? Gang warfare?

2. The film as a vigilante violence and justice film? The inadequacy is law and the police? Personal motivation for vengeance?

3. The credibility of the plot, the characters, the gangs, the murders, the individual heroics? Where did audience sympathies lie?

4. The introduction to the fire, the firefighters, Jeremy and his friends, the heroism? The camaraderie back at the station? The firefighters providing family for individuals and loners?

5. The episode in the shop, the black owner and his son interested in sport, Jeremy and his friendship? The men entering, sinister, pulling the guns, the threat about ownership and takeovers, of paying money to gangs? Shooting the boy? The plea of the father, his being shot? Jeremy observing, the clash with the criminals, his escape, the pursuit? His being wounded?

6. The police, Mike Cella and his history with the Aryan gang, the death of his partner, unable to get evidence? Mike Cella and his associate? Her loyalty? Interviews, the line-up, journey identifying David Hagan, David Hagan’s threats?

7. Jeremy going into witness protection, his unwillingness, a transfer to New Orleans, the officials, Talia and her role as a Marshall, the sex play, the relationship? Going to the rifle range, her explaining how to shoot?

8. The photos, the shootings, Talia and her being wounded, taken to hospital, her survival, being taken into state? The effect on Jeremy, vengeance, being confronted with photos, his being transferred, all trace of him and emanated from official records? His decision to escape?

9. Back in Long Beach, negotiating for the guns, with the gang, offering to eliminate the rival? Suspicions, but accepting him? His contact with Adam, the secrecy, his fighting gear? Talia and later interviewing Adam, getting the information, going to his apartment?

10. Jeremy going into action, confronting the henchmen, the fights, deaths? David Hagan and his getting the information, then vengeance, the phone calls, the threats to Talia?

11. David Hagan, his character, ruthless, relentless, his ideology, racist, the swastikas, his hold over the men, his defiance of the police?

12. Mike Cella and his assistant, getting the information, the fingerprint and its identification, contact in New Orleans and his impatience, Talia, Jeremy and the deadline, otherwise his action was criminal?

13. Talia, her coming to California, the phone calls, tracking her, meeting with Mike Cella, with Adam, her intervention, her being taken by David Hagan, in the warehouse?

14. David Hagan’s lawyer, his presence at the interrogations, his clever moves in defence of David Hagan, bail? Jeremy tracking him down, the office, the interview with the water coming down, the lawyer’s explanation of threats to his family, giving the information to Jeremy?

15. Jeremy, going to the warehouse, setting up the fire, setting it alight, the explosions, the deaths of the criminals? The phone call from Talia, his coming to rescue her, the effect, the threats from David Hagan, Talia throwing the fireman’s axe, his death?

16. Jeremy and Talia and their life? Mike Cella and his taking down the pictures from the wall, the closing of the case?

17. How realistic was the film and action, credible? Over the top? Police work and inadequacy, remaining with him a letter of the will? The role of the individual, vigilante?