Fast Charlie

I find it very, very interesting that a large number of highly-rated reviews of "Fast Charlie" have been written by "users" (a.k.a, Chat GPT) who have only been members of the site for four weeks. What are the odds that people are coming out of the woodwork to rate this little flick 10 stars out of 10! It's almost like the studio started some sort of guerrilla marketing campaign to trick unsuspecting viewers into renting this movie for $5.99 due to the positive reviews. For better or for worse I was one of those unsuspecting viewers who only took a cursory glance at the scores before deciding to settle down for the night and watch this movie. And you know what? While half of the current reviews on IMDB may be written by artificial intelligence, they are actually doing "Fast Charlie" a disservice by advertising it that way because - coming from a real person - this movie isn't bad.

I watched the trailer for "Fast Charlie" a few weeks ago, being utterly convinced that it was just another old man action movie, akin to what Liam Neeson has been putting out for the past decade or so. Luckily for me, the trailer actually undersells this movie. "Fast Charlie" is an action film, but it's also a romance, a black comedy, and a vehicle for Pierce Brosnan to sport a southern accent while driving around New Orleans, hunting down those who did him wrong. It's a simple enough premise, but I couldn't help but enjoy both the setting and the character of Charlie Swift.

Pierce Brosnan is as charming as charming can be here as a somehow lovable hitman with a southern charm that manages to be somehow both unassuming and threatening. Charlie is a killer - no doubt about it - but one that has managed to maintain his humanity. So, it's fun to watch Charlie dispatch his enemies, but it's equally as fun to watch Charlie fall for one Marcie Kramer, played by the gorgeous Morena Baccarin. Pierce gives a multilayered performance that combines stone-cold killer with southern beau, and it works in a movie that plays itself seriously enough to convey the stakes but not so seriously that it comes across as the 100th "Taken" ripoff.

To its credit, "Fast Charlie" is trying to do something different - and it does, as this is not as straightforward of an action movie as the trailer portrays itself as being. Sure, Pierce does engage in a plethora of shootouts, but the film cares less about action and more about the interactions between the characters; luckily, this is a nice change of pace, as Pierce and Morena are pretty great in their roles and really entertaining to watch as they stomp around the southern U. S. The movie is also surprisingly funny, ensuring that viewers get moments of levity among the blood-soaked gunfights. However, as this is a low budget picture, keep your expectations in check: You're not going to get as high octane of an action film as you may expect, as everything is played slightly subdued here, most likely due to Brosnan's age. That said, "Fast Charlie" works very well for fans of Pierce, and for fans of lower budget action thrillers. This might not be the freshest or most innovative film, but it is certainly entertaining enough to warrant a viewing or two. And if you're a fan of Brosnan? Well then, you may have found one of your newest favorite films.

I usually don't go for hitman movies, but Fast Charlie was a pleasant surprise. Pierce Brosnan as Charlie had this laid-back yet intense vibe that worked well for the character. The film's setting in the South gave it a unique flavor, different from the usual city-based crime thrillers. What I really appreciated was the subplot with Marcie, played by Morena Baccarin. Their relationship felt real, not forced like in some other movies in this genre. And James Caan still had that screen presence that made him a in his final role. The film had some typical action sequences, sure, but they were well-executed. It's not just about the action though; the story had depth, especially with Charlie contemplating and aspiring towards a a different life. Definitely worth a watch.

It's a real puzzle why films like Fast Charlie aren't made much anymore, or if they are, they're incredibly hard to find. This film hits a sweet spot with its well-executed action sequences and a storyline that, while familiar, is still engaging. Pierce Brosnan's performance as an aging hitman is awesome, and so different to what i've seen him do in the past. Bringing depth to a role that could easily have been one-dimensional.

The trend in cinema seems to have shifted towards blockbuster franchises or ultra-indie films, leaving little room for these kinds of mid-budget, character-driven action movies. They're not flashy enough to catch mainstream attention and not obscure enough to become cult hits. It's like you need to be a detective to hunt them down in the sea of content available today.

There's definitely a gap in the market for a streaming service dedicated to these hidden gems. Imagine a platform, maybe called "Hidden Gems," where you could find these underrated movies easily. It would be a treasure trove for film enthusiasts who crave the kind of solid storytelling and performances that "Fast Charlie" delivers but often gets lost in the shuffle of more prominent releases. A service like this could bring these overlooked films into the spotlight they deserve.

This has entertaining moments, but the clichés are endless and the dialog is as wooden as it gets. The people giving this a 10/10 are either plants or... special. There was no character development, the scene setting was terrible, the capricious flip flop in the balance of power is laughable, and the terrible pacing (especially at the end) is amateurish. Again, there are definitely scenes that hold attention, but that's not enough to give this movie a high rating. My guess is Pierce accepted this role because he owed someone a favor, or he's going broke and needed the money. Either way, this was definitely a debit from his brand, not a credit to it.

6/10.

Is it the best film ever? No. Is Pierce Brosnan's accent convincing? No. Is it a massively original plot? No. But, the pace is perfect. The humour is beautifully subtle. It's well shot, well (accents aside) acted, and extremely entertaining. It's not hyper violent, sex and bad language is minimal and there are no slumps, it just jogs along to a deliciously different ending. It's a bit of fun, and that's what films should be all about. It does it's job. I typically hate 80% of the films I watch, I'm a picky person, but I really enjoyed it. If you're at a loose end for a couple of hours, give it a go.