Fast Charlie (2023)

Synopsis

“I always thought my life would end like this, in some godforsaken place, from a bullet I didn’t see coming. I just never thought I’d care.”

That’s Charlie Swift (Pearce Brosnan), aka Fast Charlie, standing exposed in a junkyard, pinned in his tracks by a sniper. Gives it a catchy, Elmore Leonard vibe. It’s not Elmore Leonard, but the screenplay has plenty of Elmore Leonard-esque dialog. It gives you motivation to keep watching, to see how Fast Charlie got himself into this scrape, and whether he’s going to get himself out.

Fast Charlie’s journey to that final showdown starts in Biloxi, Mississippi, where he’s unenthusiastically doing a job for his boss Stan (James Caan, in his last role). He’s mentoring a wanna-be trigger man on a hit. Which doesn’t go well when his protégé gets creative and blows their target’s head off. That makes it quite the challenge to prove the hit and collect payment.

For that, they need the help of the dead guy’s ex-wife, Marcie Kramer (Morena Baccarin). She reluctantly agrees, hoping to catch up with $50,000 that her ex owes her.

Nothing original in the overall plot, which quickly shows its revenge story intentions. We meet the crime family that Stan has assembled around himself, a gaggle of loveable oddballs that Fast Charlie considers family. You immediately see where this is going. Things go sideways, a lot of people wind up dead, and Fast Charlie decides a lot more people need to wind up dead.

See It

Oh, why not. It’s not Elmore Leonard, but it’s got enough going for it to keep you either chuckling or gripping your seat.

Like the dialog. Example: Charlie is telling Marcie about his dream to buy a rundown villa in Italy, where they give you the keys for $1 if you agree to fix it up. He’s been thinking about it for years. Marcie asks him, “Well, what are you waiting for? For them to go down to 50 cents?” Or this one: “You want God to laugh, you make a plan.” Or: “You don’t wrestle with a pig. It’ll get you dirty, and he’ll like it.”

And there’s the giggle-inducing plot twists, like when Marcie finally finds her $50,000. Or the gag involving root beer and a car safety bag.

What else? Though I know it sounds weird, it’s actually refreshing to watch a gun-play-heavy flick that doesn’t try to gross you out with nonstop brain-splattering effects.

Except for his less-than-convincing Louisiana accent, Piece Brosnan gives a solid performance as the world-weary heavy who may or may not care about whether he’s able to dodge that final bullet. Morena Baccarin, as the no-nonsense Marcie, emotes just the right degree of skeptical attitude.

Stop Here Show Spoiler Commentary

A final toast. Morena Baccarin and Pierce Brosnan say a fitting goodbye to the legendary James Caan.

Best part? Toward the end, Brosnan and Baccarin have drinks with James Caan in a scene that reveals some crucial final twists. But it's also obviously there as a loving toast to the veteran actor James Caan, whose wheelchair and oxygen tank were really needed. Caan was sassy and animated to the end.

One final fitting quote: “It’s not really letting go of the past that sticks with you. It’s coming to terms with letting go of the future that will never be.”