Pierce Brosnan drops his Irish elocution for a Southern twang in a breezy crime thriller with unexpected dark humor. Fast Charlie, adapted from the novel Gun Monkeys by Victor Gischler, has a hit man with a penchant for Italian cooking seeking vengeance after a ruthless competitor attacks his crew. The film also marks the final performance of legendary actor James Caan, who portrays Stan Mullen, a crime boss and Brosnan’s surrogate father of sorts. Fast Charlie isn’t extraordinary but has solid action, good cast chemistry, and enough macabre chuckles to warrant a recommendation.
In Biloxi, Mississippi, Charlie Swift (Brosnan) walks half-naked around a junkyard with his hands in the air. Charlie’s voice-over narration starts the flashback to recount events leading to his dire predicament. Several weeks earlier, Charlie dons a suit and jumps in his Cadillac for a job. A well-dressed Charlie means that someone is about to be killed. He uncharacteristically picks up an accomplice for murder. Blade (Brennan Keel Cook), a buffoon he nicknames “donut” for reasons you’ll have to watch to understand, is giddy to work with such an esteemed mob enforcer.
Charlie and Blade have gotten the location of a duplicitous gangster called Rollo (David Kallaway). He’s about to take a dirt nap as a favor to Beggar Mercado (Gbenga Akinnagbe), a New Orleans mobster who’s been itching for a partnership with Stan (Caan), Biloxi’s big heavy. The plan goes awry, to say the least. Charlie’s forced to find Rollo’s ex-wife, Marcie Kramer (Morena Baccarin), a taxidermist who lives in a seaside house on stilts, for help. She despises Rollo, wants nothing to do with Charlie, but needs to break free of her former life.
Morena Baccarin as Marcie Kramer
Vertical
Later, at Stan’s birthday party, Charlie and his crime family celebrate decades working for their respected boss. The wheelchair-bound Stan, who’s also riddled with dementia, is overjoyed by their love and loyalty. Stan admits to Charlie that he doesn’t remember most things, but wants an update on the Rollo situation. Stan has no desire to let a thug like Beggar anywhere near his Biloxi territory. He’s made that known to the syndicate in no uncertain terms. Unfortunately for Stan, Charlie, and their clan of crooks, Beggar doesn’t take kindly to a cold shoulder.
Brosnan infuses Charlie with his trademark wit and effortless charisma. The guy has been whacking people for decades, but you like him from the start. Scenes of Charlie caring for the infirmed Stan by bringing him dinner, medication, and vitamins show the value of their relationship. These are ostensibly decent people despite their bloody and nefarious profession. Charlie and Stan adhere to old school values. They play by the rules because honor must exist between thieves. It’s believable that they’re caught off guard by Beggar’s attack.
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Baccarin co-stars as a formidable woman who isn’t a damsel in distress. She can hold her own and is just as tough as everyone else. Baccarin’s almost unrecognizable in tattoos, jeans, and a t-shirt. Marcie’s not glamorous but exudes confidence and kindness under her hardened shell. Charlie’s quickly smitten, but she’s wary of falling for another gangster. Marcie warns Charlie “not to fall for her.” The script by Richard Wenk (The Equalizer trilogy, The Magnificent Seven) doesn’t have them fawning over each other. They have deadly business to settle. Romance cautiously develops, but the happy ending isn’t a given.
Director Phillip Noyce Brings the Action
Australian director Phillip Noyce (Rabbit-Proof Fence, Harrison Ford’s Jack Ryan films, Salt) surprises with grisly comedy as the action apéritif. The opening scene will have you in stitches. Noyce sets a tone that swings between tense and humorous. The supporting cast almost steals the show with several standout moments. Charlie and Marcie are hilariously skewered by Rollo’s saucy mother, Mavis (Sharon Gless). Her earful of cussing and physical response to their interrogation is golden.
Noyce is an action master and hasn’t lost a step. Charlie doesn’t take kindly to betrayal. Beggar’s men get serious comeuppance for their treachery. Charlie fills the morgue with a little help from Marcie. He splits craniums with bullets and other reachable objects as Marcie also gets her hands dirty. Let’s just say her experience as a taxidermist comes in handy. Action junkies will certainly get their fix here.
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One glaring problem does hamper the narrative. Charlie and Marcie take a few licks but are never in real danger. Beggar’s goons inexplicably continue to let Charlie live when they could easily snuff his candle. A particular scene makes no sense as Charlie literally has a gun to his head. Pull the trigger and wrap this story up in 30 minutes. Wenk is a tremendous screenwriter, but it’s odd he repeatedly lets Charlie slip away from guaranteed doom.
Fast Charlie is a production of Ashland Hill Media Finance, Boomtown Media Partners, Foresight Unlimited, and Golden Liberty Films, et al. It is currently in limited theatrical release with VOD and digital availability from Vertical. You can buy or rent it on Apple TV, Google Play, or YouTube below:
Release Date December 8, 2023
Rating R
Runtime 90 min
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