Faster - Thoughts

Though I’d seen the trailer for Faster, I didn’t quite remember what it was about when I saw the DVD at the video store. Figuring that it was probably a good action flick thanks to Dwayne Johnson, better known as The Rock, I decided to rent it. I normally give a short gist of the plot in my opening paragraph, but today I’m gonna say as little as possible, to ensure no spoilers! Things start with The Rock leaving prison after serving time; the events there after including, his unfolding plan, two detectives hot on his heels, an assassin, and an intriguing backstory to it all. 

Going by my rather unusual plot delivery, I’m sure it’s obvious that there’s something unique about Faster. Don’t ruin it for yourself by watching the trailer, or worse yet reading up on it on IMDB. The brilliance of Faster lies in not knowing and learning as the narrative unfolds. If like me you’re thinking it’s yet another in your face, Rock action movie, guess again. Faster is dark, gripping, and a wonderful blend of action and suspense. Similarly the sequences complement this mix, juxtaposing small town law enforcement investigations, flashbacks, collateral character development, and action sequences. It’s been a while since I’ve gone into a movie expecting above average to good, and coming out surprised and extremely impressed. George Tillman Jr. has done a wonderful job with Faster, making it one of the best crime drama’s I’ve seen in the recent years.

The performances in Faster are superb, with Billy Bob Thornton taking the cake as The Cop. His portrayal of the character being simply faultless; adding a level of realism to the role that makes Faster work so well. Dwayne Johnson, a.k.a The Rock, again surprising us all with his dark character delivery. While the action is consistent with his usual roles, the vengeance behind it and underlying anger come through well, leading me to believe that he isn’t just another wrestling superstar turned movie actor. Also worth mention are characters Cicero and Lily played by Carla Gugino and Maggie Grace respectively; the latter of Lost TV serial fame.

The source content sampled was a standard region 1 US release DVD. Video was good, but not crystal clear. In my opinion, that as well as the warm yellowish brownish tone was probably intentional. The intent being to present a dusty small town, seemingly in the 80’s yet in modern day. Sound was presented by means of a Dolby Digital 5.1 surround soundtrack. Positional sound was good, and action sound effects decent. I felt that the volume level variation on the center channel between general dialog and sudden loud sounds was a bit annoying though, requiring for constant volume adjusting. Also worth mention are the alternate ending and deleted scenes; make sure to check them out if you’re watching the original DVD with all extra movie content.

My Recommendation: Watch It + (An intriguing dark crime drama)