Taglines: Justice is blind. So is he.
Fate deals young orphan Matt Murdock a strange hand when he is doused with hazardous waste. The accident leaves Matt blind but also gives him a heightened “radar sense” that allows him to “see” far better than any man. Years later Murdock has grown into a man and becomes a respected criminal attorney. But after he’s done his “day job” Matt takes on a secret identity as “The Man Without Fear,” Daredevil, the masked avenger that patrols the neighborhood of Hell’s Kitchen and New York City to combat the injustice that he cannot tackle in the courtroom.
Daredevil is an American superhero film written and directed by Mark Steven Johnson. Based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name, the film stars Ben Affleck as Matt Murdock, a blind lawyer who fights for justice in the courtroom and out of the courtroom as the masked vigilante Daredevil. Jennifer Garner plays his love interest Elektra Natchios; Colin Farrell plays the merciless assassin Bullseye; David Keith plays Jack “The Devil” Murdock, a washed up fighter who is Matt’s father; and Michael Clarke Duncan plays Wilson Fisk, also known as the crime lord Kingpin.
The film began development in 1997 at 20th Century Fox and Columbia Pictures, before New Regency acquired the rights in 2000. Johnson shot the film primarily in Downtown Los Angeles despite the Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan setting of the film and comics. Rhythm and Hues Studios were hired to handle the film’s CGI. Graeme Revell composed the Daredevil score which was released on CD in March 2003, whereas the various artists soundtrack album, Daredevil: The Album, was released in February.
Matt Murdock is a blind lawyer in New York City’s Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood, where he runs a firm with best friend Franklin “Foggy” Nelson. As a child, Matt was blinded by a toxic waste spill while walking home from school after discovering that his father, former boxer Jack “The Devil” Murdock, had become an enforcer for a local mobster.
The accident enhanced Matt’s other senses and gave him sonar to “see” via sonic vibrations. Matt trained himself in martial arts. Blaming himself for Matt’s disability, Jack stopped being an enforcer, returned to boxing, and was killed after refusing to turn in a fixed fight for the mobster who had employed him earlier. After his Fathers death, Young Matthew promised to stop all crime that controlled Hell’s Kitchen, New York as the vigilante crime-fighter “Daredevil”.
In the present day, Matt meets Elektra Natchios, daughter of Nikolas Natchios, a businessman who has dealings with Wilson Fisk, a rich executive who is also the criminal leader known as the Kingpin. When Nikolas tries to bail on his dealings with Fisk, the mobster hires the Irish hitman Bullseye, who has preternatural aim, to kill him. Matt tries to stop Bullseye, but Bullseye ultimately succeeds in killing Nikolas and framing Matt in the process. Elektra vows to exact revenge, while reporter Ben Urich discovers his secret identity. Believing Matt to have done good things for Hell’s Kitchen, Urich tells Matt that Bullseye is going after Elektra next.
Matt tracks Bullseye, but is attacked by Elektra, who plans to use her own extensive training in martial arts to avenge her father’s death. After wounding him, she removes his mask, and discovers Matt’s secret identity and innocence. Forced to fight Bullseye alone, Elektra is overpowered and killed by the hitman. A wounded Matt makes his way to a church, where he is looked after by his confidante, Father Everett, who knows his secret identity. After recovering slightly, Matt fights Bullseye, who had followed him to the church.
Bullseye discovers that loud noise is Matt’s weakness and prepares to kill him with a spiked piece of wood after incapacitating him. Matt blocks the attack and hears an FBI sniper stationed on the neighboring building preparing to fire. As the bullet is fired, Matt moves out of the bullet’s path and pulls Bullseye’s hands into it. When Bullseye pleads for mercy, Matt throws him from the church’s top floor. Bullseye lands on the hood of Urich’s car, wounded but alive.
Directed by: Mark Steven Johnson
Starring: Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner, Colin Farrell, Michael Clarke Duncan, Jon Favreau, Ellen Pompeo
Screenplay by: Mark Steven Johnson
Production Design by: Barry Chusid
Cinematography by: Ericson Core
Film Editing by: Armen Minasian, Dennis Virkler
Costume Design by: James Acheson
Set Decoration by: Victor J. Zolfo
Music by: Graeme Revell
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for action/violence and some sensuality.
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Release Date: February 14, 2003
