Fast Company

Stuck between "Scanners" and "The Brood", "Fast Company" is quite a strange movie among David Cronenberg's filmography. Apparently giving away his ambitious and usual themes, Cronenberg makes a pure entertainment, very close to Burt Reynolds' universe ! So what happened? Cronenberg's attachment to this film leads us to think it could be hiding something deeper. And in fact, one of the main Cronenbergian obsessions is the subject of the film : the car races are a metaphoric expression of "the re-building of the human body by technology". Is the movie any good ? Well, for a Cronenberg fan, it's quite interesting. Others should watch a REAL Burt Reynold movie !

AN AWESOME MUSEUM PIECE OF 70'S DRAG RACING "B" DRIVE-IN MOVIE HISTORY!

As other reviewers have said, this is not Cronenberg's best movie, but you need to understand even though it came out in 1979, it was shot way before that, and was one of his first movies of this commercial nature, actually his first movie with a budget of over a million dollars. So? So lighten up a bit, and look at what is there, not what lacking!

Yes, I agree with the blackxmas review above, but beg you all to view this as a "moment in time", in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and Spokane, Washington, USA. You have to, otherwise it won't stand up to criticism using current movie criteria. In other words, do not buy this movie if you want an intriguing plot and award-winning acting! LOL But if you know a person who went to these two drag strips back in the 70s, make their day with this one!

I am not going to add any more film criticism here, but wanted to make the point that it is rare movie because of the age of this famous film maker, because few VHS copies were ever released and because it is a Northern-made drive in movie made by a young Canadian film maker. Yes, Canadian. LOL And, oh yes---- a certain November 1969 Playboy model named Claudia Jennings was featured in this movie, and tragically, and perhaps ironically, lost her life in a car accident shortly after. So, yes, I think Fatss Company is a collector's movie.

**Canada had just started offering incentives to U.S. film makers to come up north, so David was in the right place at the right time. A long string of very famous movies have been shot here in Alberta, and Brad Pitt is getting ready to star in a movie about Jesse James--right here--- as I am typing this.

One last thing: If you look VERY carefully in the stands near the crash scene, you may be able to see me in my Mopar ball cap----yes, I was there. Hey Honey--we're out of popcorn! See you at the movies!

Fast Company (1979)

** (out of 4)

Mildly entertaining drama about drag racer Lonnie Johnson (William Smith) who is battling an evil owner (John Saxon) who is after money instead of winning. Lonnie takes new racer Billy Brocker (Nicholas Campbell) under his wing and soon the two are into a deadly game with the owner.

FAST COMPANY is a pretty strange movie from David Cronenberg. Usually when you think of Cronenberg and strange you think of the countless bizarre horror films that he made during this era but what makes this film "strange" is the fact that there's no gore, no bloody murders or anything to that nature. Inf act, FAST COMPANY is a pretty laid back picture that almost feels like a made-for-television flick and it probably could have been if it wasn't for the nudity that is thrown in.

I'm not going to say FAST COMPANY is a bad movie because it certainly isn't but at the same time there's nothing great here either. I think the film's strongest stuff are the actors who all turn in fine performances and at least make their characters fun. Smith is extremely good in his role and he's very believable in the part and helps carry the picture. Campbell is good in his supporting role and it was nice seeing Claudia Jennings in her final film. Cedric Smith is also good in his role of the rival and Saxon is perfect playing the creep owner.

The melodrama is okay but there's just not really anything here that keeps you glued to what's going on. There's some nice race car footage as well as some nice action at times but none of them really makes for a very entertaining movie. FAST COMPANY is mildly entertaining but it's easy to see why not too many people know of the film.

A sentence with the words "David Cronenberg" and "car racing movie" isn't exactly something you hear every day, but yes, Cronenberg did in fact make one in the late 70s in between his horror classics 'Rabid' and 'The Brood'. Very few people outside of Canada have seen 'Fast Company', and as Cronenberg is my favourite contemporary director I've been intrigued about it for years. Now that Blue Underground have released a restored version on DVD we can all finally get to see it. Now I'd love to be able to say that's it's some kind of lost masterpiece and essential viewing for Cronenberg buffs, but to be honest it's just an enjoyable b-grade racing movie, the kind of flick AIP would have released without a blink of an eye. I seriously doubt that anyone who watched it not knowing who directed it would be able to guess that Cronenberg was involved. He himself regards it as an important movie in his career, as it was another step in his learning how to make "real" movies, and because he also met several key future collaborators. That historical interest aside it's by far the most "normal" and therefore least interesting movie he's made to date. The movie is helped immeasurably by having b-grade legends William Smith ('Run, Angel, Run', 'Invasion Of The Bee Girls', 'Boss N*gger', 'The Ultimate Warrior') and John Saxon ('Planet Of Blood', 'Enter The Dragon', 'Black Christmas', 'Cannibal Apocalypse') as leads. Smith plays Lonnie Johnson a racer under pressure from his sponsors, who are represented by the back stabbing Saxon. The two work well together and by the looks of the short interview included on the DVD seem like great buddies. The late Claudia Jennings (her final role) plays Smith's love interest Sammy, and Nicholas Campbell, who subsequently acted in Cronenberg's 'The Brood', 'The Dead Zone' and 'Naked Lunch', plays his cocky protege Billy "The Kid" Brocker. The main problem with the movie apart from the awful sub-Springsteen "rawk" score, is a dull script. With a bit more work the movie really could have been something special , but as it stands 'Fast Company' is little more than an interesting curio for fans of Cronenberg and/or 70s exploitation movies.

The famous drag racer Lonnie 'Lucky Man' Johnson (William Smith) is the star of the Fast Company, managed by the corrupt Phil Adamson (John Saxon) Lonnie is the mentor of the promising funny car racer Billy 'The Kid' Brocker (Nicholas Campbell). When Adamson makes a deal with Lonnie's competitor Gary 'The Blacksmith' Black (Cedric Smith), he takes the funny car from Lonnie and Billy. But they decide to steal the car and run independently in the next race. But Adamson intends to use any means to stop Loonie.

"Fast Company" is an incredibly dull film by David Cronenberg. The film is indicated only for fans of this great director that want to know his complete filmography and fans of drag racing. This film is the last one for the gorgeous Claudia Jennings that ironically died in a car accident in the same year. My vote is five.

Title (Brazil): "Escuderia do Poder" ("Motor-Racing Team of the Power")