I might be one of the few people out there that actually like this movie, more so enjoy it for what it is, a little hard-boiled noir-ish film with Dwayne Johnson (The Rock) getting a little more opportunity to be a fleshed out character instead of being just a slab of buff meat who punches or shoots things. Maybe shooting things with his rocket fists or something. What hooked me is the teaser trailer and the voice over work. I will admit, I am a sucker for a little subtext that gets the mood set for this movie….and The Rock just goes on a revenge spree.
After 10 years in prison, Driver (Dwayne Johnson) has a singular focus – to avenge the murder of his brother during the botched bank robbery that led to his imprisonment. Now a free man with a deadly to-do list in hand, he’s finally on his mission…but with two men on his trail – a veteran cop (Billy Bob Thornton) just days from retirement, and a young egocentric hitman (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) with a flair for the art of killing and a newfound worthy opponent. The hunter is also the hunted. It’s a do or die race to the list’s finish as the mystery surrounding his brother’s murder deepens, and new details emerge along the way hinting that Driver’s list may be incomplete. — (C) CBS Films
Well, Faster isn’t so much a fast, high octane action film like the title of the film would lead you to believe. The movie has its moments of action that happen in a relatively quick succession, but a lot of exposition is given during the flick about the morality of these actions. Much like the opening to the teaser trailer, is it about the vengeance that is gained in order to find peace. It would be a much better flick if that was really explored to the dark side of that morality tale, but sadly it isn’t. What you get is a satisfying action vehicle for Dwayne Johnson to go around looking badass and doing badass things.
Dwayne Johnson is really the best thing about this movie, channeling this camouflaged rage of a human being with pure, raw power, he is absolutely imposing. A man on the lamb and out for revenge for a crime he didn’t commit, his will is just in his mind, thus making his acts a bit more gratifying to watch on screen. There is no stopping Johnson who just goes from kill to kill, speeding along in that gorgeous looking muscle car and you know what, emoting like a motherfucker. Say what you will about the muscle bound man, he can get serious when needed. Billy Bob on the other hand brings a little b-movie flair to his character and its rather enjoyable to see him be the pursuing authority to Johnson’s recklessness.
I really wish that movie took a noir turn and went down a darker path, but some lazy plot turns and few fleshed out characters limited the enjoyment to a pure ride in the muscle car. I still like it for an action flick with some nice car chases, plus getting to see The Rock in another starring vehicle with a little more depth/range is nice. I can’t say that I would watch him in other movies that have him as a menacing figure who just walks around being tough, but at least he had a chance to act in this picture and does a good job. Sure the hate for the flick is limiting this to a b-movie of the sorts that doesn’t measure up, but I like what I saw and that’s all that counts for me.
