One Fast Move

"One Fast Move" is a heartfelt drama that explores themes of reconciliation, ambition, and healing. The film centers on a young man who, facing financial hardship, reconnects with his estranged father while pursuing his dream of becoming a professional motorcycle racer. This journey not only tests his physical endurance but also challenges him to confront the emotional scars left by his father's absence.

The relationship between the protagonist and his father is the core of the story, offering a deep dive into the complexities of family bonds strained by time and neglect. The supporting character, a motorcycle store owner, plays a crucial role in helping the young man break down the emotional walls he's built up, symbolizing the mentor figure often found in sports dramas.

The film's strength lies in its character development and the authenticity of the father-son dynamic. The racing scenes are well-executed, providing enough adrenaline to keep viewers engaged, but it's the emotional journey that leaves a lasting impact. The narrative is well-paced, balancing action with moments of introspection, making it a compelling watch.

Overall, "One Fast Move" is a good film that resonates with anyone who has experienced the complexities of familial relationships, especially those marked by absence and the longing for connection. It's a story of redemption and the pursuit of dreams, grounded in the reality of personal struggle and growth.

Greetings again from the darkness. One result from the expansion of the movie streaming universe is that independent films with specific topics can find a home for niche audiences. Actor-turned-director Kelly Blatz (he was a co-lead in LOREN & ROSE, 2022) turns in a rare motorcycle racing movie, although to enhance the odds, it also features the familiar tropes of an angry young man, an estranged father-son reunion, and a love story.

KJ Apa ("Riverdale" heartthrob) plays Wes, the angry young man who displays poor judgment in the opening motorcycle race on a military base. After a stint in Fort Leavenworth and his discharge, Wes and his bike head out to find long-lost (by design) dad. Dean (Eric Dane, "Euphoria", Grey's Anatomy") is a racer who had some success in the past, though his best days are far behind him. He's a party boy who never grew up - one still trying to live life on the wild side through motorcycles, alcohol, and women. Wes just wants his old deserting dad to coach him on the track so he can make something of himself. Wrangling these two cats is bike shop owner Abel (Edward James Olmos). Think of him as the Mr. Miyagi for these two emotionally stunted polar opposites.

And yes, we do get a budding romance for Wes with the stunning smile of Camilia (Maia Reficco, "Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin"). She's a charming waitress at the local diner and studying to be a nurse. The two hit it off while also keeping secrets from each other. Where Eric Dane overplays his part, Edward James Olmos and his reserved manner and screen presence brings a needed depth to the ongoings. Olmos has had quite a career, appearing in both BLADE RUNNER (1982) and BLADE RUNNER 2049 (2017), as well as "Miami Vice" and "Dexter", and receiving an Oscar nomination for STAND AND DELIVER (1988). "Riverdale" fans will be pleased to note that KJ Apa does find reasons to lose his shirt. Motorcycle fans will be happy with the motor-revving and racetrack shots.

Releases on Prime Video August 8, 2024.

We haven't had a half decent bike movie since Biker Boyz and so I was rather excited for this one but 5 minutes into it and I was already disappointed, the bike scenes were lacklustre to say the most. The riding was slow and not all that exciting. I can understand the struggles to film a bike race and I can't imagine how hard it is to make it look good but with the technology we have no a days I would have thought it was going to be better than this. The story was 5/10 but was more geared towards the love interest rather than the racing. The filming was ok but couldn't really get you all that interested or invested.

What's good: some of the concepts around grassroots racing, some of the lingo

What's bad: everything else. This movie failed to achieve anything well.

I suppose this movie isn't unique in its failure to deliver on all fronts when compared to other motorcycle, go-kart, or car racing movies but with every bad example produced, there is evidence of what not to do and the bar for bare minimum should get higher each time, automatically so my expectations, maybe hope, is that it will get better.

Maybe the subject matter experts bounce around from one project to another and that's where the potential is limited.

No pun intended - if you like racing movies, I might not even have to say or write anything here. Just go watch it I reckon. On the other hand, maybe you do care about casting (I do like the actors involved, check them out and see if they play a role for you - again no pun intended) ... and/or the story there may be something to check before you decide to watch anyway.

All that said, do no forget this is a low budget movie. And not even close to be compared to Fast & Furious (which was also a remake of something completely different and all that). So while there may not be anything new to watch here (racing scenes are well shot I should add), it all depends on your own taste ...