Has there ever been a bigger success from the wrestling ring to the silver screen than Dwayne Johnson? Okay, we will let him fight it out with John Cena, yet Johnson remains the quintessential example of leveraging a successful career from wrestling to Hollywood star; Hulk Hogan’s acting career is seldom looked on as a ‘success’ in retrospect. With Dwayne Johnson’s acting career still flourishing, it is not surprising that the recent addition of the action revenge film Faster on Netflix had it climbing the charts.
Released in 2010, the movie gives viewers a chance to see Johnson earlier in his career, when he was still trying to find that balance of action and comedy that has made him so beloved today. Not only does this make Faster a gem in his catalog, but it also means that much of his preparation for the role went overlooked, including learning a martial art. We will look at why Faster fell through the cracks, the unique martial art Johnson learned for the part, and whether you should check the film out for yourself.
Dwayne Johnson Gets Intense in ‘Faster’
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Release Date November 24, 2010
Runtime 98minutes
Jimmy Cullen (Dwayne Johnson), who goes by “Driver,” is seeing freedom after 10 years in prison, after a botched robbery that resulted in the death of his brother. On release, Driver acquires a gun, a Chevrolet Chevelle, and a list of names of people he believes are responsible for his brother’s death and his conviction. As Driver starts taking people out one by one, he begins to unravel the full story behind his set-up and realizes someone close to home helped orchestrate the event. Faster is an action-packed revenge film full of twists and turns.
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While Dwayne Johnson’s star was certainly on the rise in the 2010s, the start of the decade saw him only starting to touch on the later greatness he would see on the screen. Faster was released during the period when ‘The Rock’ jumped between WWE and acting. Joining Dwayne Johnson were some notable names, including Billy Bob Thornton, Maggie Grace, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Mike Epps, and Tom Berenger. The movie was directed by George Tillman Jr., whose other work includes Big George Foreman (2023), Notorious (2009), and Men of Honour (2000). Faster had a moderate box office showing; on a budget of $24 million, the film grossed $35.6 million worldwide.
What Is 52 Blocks and How Did Dwayne Johnson Learn It for ‘Faster’
The origin of the ’52 Blocks,’ more casually known as “Jailhouse Rock,” is somewhat surrounded in mystery and speculation. It is believed to have been developed as far back as the 1800s in the USA by slaves, with its roots in a fighting style referred to as “Virginia Scufflin'” or “Knocking and Kicking.” From there, it evolved in the prison system after the Civil War as a means to protect oneself. Regardless of origins, 52 Blocks was tailored for defending oneself in the prison system. The martial arts style is designed for a mix of offense and defense, prioritizing blocking with traditional boxing strikes and knees and elbows in close quarters. Where 52 Blocks distinguishes itself is its emphasis on movement and improvisation within smaller, confined spaces.
The discipline has garnered some popularity in the mainstream; Wu-Tang Clan sang about it, and actor Larenz Tate and singer Ludacris have trained in the martial art. Some speculate that Mike Tyson incorporated some of the techniques into his own boxing career from his stint in prison. For Faster, Dwayne Johnson ‘learned’ the martial art for a specific scene, the “club toilet fight scene.” Johnson apparently learned it in two days, so whether it was just to choreograph the scene or a legitimate interest in the martial art is up for debate; it has also never been disclosed who taught him. Regardless, the crash course in Jailhouse Rock paid off, as the scene remains one of the biggest highlights of the action film.
Should You Watch ‘Faster’
Looking at the fan and critical response to Faster does not paint a positive picture of the action film. Currently, Faster is 41% Rotten with 128 critic reviews and 52% on the Popcornmeter; IMDB is kinder at 6.7/10, and Letterboxd has it at 2.7/5. Many of the gripes came down to the plot and pacing, with many feeling there were too many subplots, which ultimately drowned any interest in Driver’s quest for revenge. With the final ‘baddie’ being tied to an evangelical church, others felt the movie failed to provide any sort of greater commentary on how this element played into the morality of revenge and corruption in the church. Finally, while the majority liked the action, some found little variety in the scenes and the amount of exposition between led to a more dull pace.
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All critiques against Faster are fair, to a point, and the movie is far from being that perfect revenge movie many wanted. Yet, Faster’s recent climb up the Netflix charts proves there is more to the Johnson-led action flick. Much of this does come from the great performance of Dwayne Johnson, who embodies a brooding and intimidating force of vengeance to near perfection.
However, the action sequences and tone really are a double-edged sword, where some found the darker themes engaging despite how many tangents the film went on, and the action acted as a highlight to the story, not repetitive. Faster is far from perfect, but it is still a competently woven tale of revenge that highlights the early star power of Dwayne Johnson. For fans of the actor, it is a must-watch. You can stream Faster on Netflix and Paramount+.
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