Director: Philip Noyce
Cast: Pierce Brosnan, James Caan, Morena Baccarin, Sharon Gless
Runtime: 1hr 30 mins
Distributed by: Vertical
Genre: Crime/Thriller
For around 20 years Charlie Swift (Pierce Brosnan) from Orlando has worked as a ruthless fixer and a hitman. Dealing with retirement post his service as an ex-marine he is compelled to get into avenging his friend and boss Stan’s death. During a consignment, his accomplice shoots a target and whacks off his head. Now he has a new task on his hands of convincing his mob boss from Miami for whom he works that the departed soul was of the same person he intended to kill. Very soon he realizes that his entire gang was killed by the same person who was threatening to kill Stan. Post this he teams up with his new accomplice Marcie Kramer (Morena Baccarin) and sets out on a hunt to find the person (mob boss in Miami) who killed his mob and neutralize them. As the plot unfolds, we can witness a twist in the tale.
A still from the movie
The storyline is based on a novel by Gun Monkeys by Victor Gischler. The movie’s plot is concise, to the point, and has an assertive tone. The storyline is simple to understand with no complex plot as such. It might seem like a simple revenge story and yes, it is. But a flawless performance from Pierce Brosnan helps us to get along with the main protagonist’s objective. Morenna Baccarin doesn’t have much to contribute but adds a little tinge of romance to the plot. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that Pierce Brosnan steals the show as Bond fans might get to see sparks and flashes of 007 in his style, dialogue delivery, swagger, smooth-talking, etc. Cinematography is commendable which adds to the pros of the movie. Combine it with the screenplay and you get a typical edge-of-the-seat thriller. The movie gets you hooked from the beginning from the very first killing scene and makes you yearn for the climax as the movie begins with a scene from the same. Friendship and Loyalty is the central theme of the movie. The character of Pierce Brosnan could be seen taking care of his friend and would go to any length to protect him from his enemies. The movie ends on a lighter note with a good ending without giving its audience anything to feel remorse about. This movie doesn’t promise any high-octane action scenes but you can’t miss the thrill the movie gives you all along. The plot is perfectly crafted to accommodate Pierce’s character and scenes have been shot accordingly.
A still from the movie
The visuals are enchanting as a couple of long shots over the towns fill you up with calmness and serenity. Some scenes like Charlie hiding in a chamber that looks like a duct and getting shot in the leg, but still holding onto the walls without letting out a shriek, might give you a thrill.
Being a crime thriller movie, Fast Charlie does justice to the plot by not adding unnecessary elements to the plot making it lengthier and more boring. Even if the movie has some minor flaws, they go unnoticed as the movie is fast-paced, which helps you overlook them. The movie might strike a chord with people who like movies like Jack Reach, Run All Night, etc. The markers should have added an extra character along with Pierce & Morenna as the chemistry between Charlie and Marcie doesn’t kick off. The building tension between the two as shown in some parts of the movie seems dull and doesn’t seem to relate to each other. The duo seems to give off a father-daughter vibe which doesn’t seem to correlate to the vibe that makers have tried to give in the movie about the couple.
The movie doesn’t seem to offer anything special other than Pierce Brosnan and a revengeful story. But it stands out in terms of performances and fighting sequences. But this is not the type of movie one would go to the theatre to watch. It can be enjoyed at home. All in all, it is a type of movie that can be described as a perfect revenge movie that concludes everything in the end.