Normally when you see The Rock… sorry… Dwayne Johnson (‘You Again’, ‘The Other Guys’) included in the credits of a film, you can guarantee that it will be a mind-numbing action film where writing a script was optional and any kind of storyline is non-existent. But ‘Faster’ is different… sure it’s another movie where someone is seeking bloody revenge, but this time it works, and actually manages to suck its audience in.
Johnson plays Driver, a lucky-to-be-alive criminal who is released from prison with just one thing on his mind – revenge for his Brother’s (Matt Gerald – TV’S ‘Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior & CSI: Miami) murder. That means he is coming after the likes of, a pedophile Old Man (John Cirigliano – ‘The Last Godfather’, ‘How To Go On A Date In Queens’), a Telemarketer (Courtney Gains – ‘The Quiet Ones’, ‘Cinema Salvation’) and an Evangelist (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje – ‘G.I. Joe: Rise Of The Cobra’, TV’S ‘Monk’). It is up to a drug-addicted Cop (Billy Bob Thornton – ‘The Smell Of Success’, ‘The Informers’) and his reluctant partner, Cicero (Carla Gugino – ‘I Melt With You’, TV’S ‘Californication’) to put the pieces together and hunt down Driver. And if they don’t get him then a hitman known as Killer (Oliver Jackson-Cohen – ‘Going The Distance’, TV’S ‘Bonekickers’) will.
Some may say that ‘Faster’ looks like a 90 minute music video, but this is a style that director, George Tillman Jnr (‘Notorious’, ‘Men Of Honor’) puts to good use here… and it works remarkably well. This is a fast-paced film and this is one time when the style compliments the film, and for once this style doesn’t let the film lose any trace of storyline. Thanks to Tony & Joe Gayton’s (‘Two Headed Cow’, ‘Murder By Numbers’) script this is also one action film that does actually consist of a good storyline. In fact the only annoying thing about the film is that Tillman has let some very annoying filmmaking mistakes and goofs get through into the final edit.
Also benefiting from the great storyline are Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and Billy Bob Thornton. For ages now Johnson has been labeled ‘just-another-action-hero’ but here he is actually called upon to do a little bit acting… okay, it’s not Oscar-winning stuff, but at least it does show that he can act when he needs to. Thornton also puts in a wonderful performance in the role of Cop. The Gayton’s have created a truly unique character and Thornton brings him to life in way that nearly makes him likeable. Also worth a second look is Oliver Jackson-Cohen, he certainly looks to have the skills that will make him a Hollywood regular.
‘Faster’ is one of the best action films to surface in a long time. With a story that any drama would be proud of, ‘Faster’ is a fast paced film with an ending that certainly won’t disappoint.
Year: 2010
Director: George Tillman Jnr
Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Matt Gerald, John Cirigliano, Courtney Gains, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Carla Gugino, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Billy Bob Thornton
Classification: MA
Runtime: 98 mins
Rating:
