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Fast Charlie
By Jeffrey M. Anderson,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Brisk, funny, and entertaining -- but bloody -- crime movie.
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Fast Charlie
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What's the Story?
In FAST CHARLIE, Charlie Swift (Pierce Brosnan) is an assassin and "problem solver" for an old-time Biloxi, Mississippi, crime family. The head of the family, Stan (James Caan), has starting having memory problems, and Charlie has been looking after him. Charlie is sent to work with a rookie, Blade (Brennan Keel Cook), to take out a troublemaker called "Rollo," but Blade makes a huge mess of the situation, and the body can't be identified. They go to Rollo's ex-wife, Marcie (Morena Baccarin), for help, and Charlie and Marcie find themselves drawn to each other. Unfortunately, a new crime boss, Beggar (Gbenga Akinnagbe), is looking for something Rollo had and takes out most of the members of Charlie's "family" in the process. So Charlie steels himself and sets out to find whatever it is that Beggar is looking for and then shut down his entire operation. But Beggar has an ace up his sleeve, a right-hand-man known as "The Freak" (Christopher Matthew Cook).
Is It Any Good?
This crime tale uses many familiar elements, but, under the guidance of director Phillip Noyce, it feels crisp, fleet-footed, and spirited, adding up to a solid, entertaining B-movie. After an unnecessary flash-forward to a later climactic moment, Fast Charlie -- which is based on a novel by Victor Gischler -- may win you over early on with some unexpectedly bloody and funny moments. From there, even though the usual "looking for a piece of evidence" and "getting revenge" elements don't change, the characters are drawn with such bold, confident strokes and are so likable that they power through, making it all feel fresh. (It recalls Elmore Leonard's best stories.)
In particular, Brosnan and Baccarin make a great team, he tentatively sensing a connection, and she asserting herself, refusing to be put in a box. Supporting characters aren't onscreen long enough to make a huge impact -- Noyce has chosen speed (the movie runs 90 sturdy minutes) over atmosphere -- but there's a good shorthand at work. We know enough about them. It's this overall expert balance of humor, violence, and character that make Fast Charlie so much effortless fun.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Fast Charlie's violence. How did it make you feel? Was it exciting? Shocking? What did the movie show or not show to achieve this effect? Why is that important?
What is the nature of revenge? Can it be satisfying? Why? Can it ever truly solve a problem?
Why do we root for Charlie, even though he's a career criminal who never faces consequences for his actions?
Charlie tells a story about playing cowboys with his father and always "getting shot in the back" until he learns that he must "play by my own rules, not anyone else's." Do you agree with this lesson? Why, or why not?
Stan tries to explain to Charlie that "you'll more regret the things you didn't do than the things you did." What do you think of this statement?
Movie Details
- In theaters: December 8, 2023
- On DVD or streaming: December 8, 2023
- Cast: Pierce Brosnan , Morena Baccarin , James Caan
- Director: Phillip Noyce
- Inclusion Information: Female actors, Latino actors
- Studio: Vertical Entertainment
- Genre: Thriller
- Topics: Book Characters
- Run time: 90 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: December 5, 2023
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