Fast Charlie is about the ageing fixer Charlie Swift in Sunshine State. Actor Pierce Brosnan plays the protagonist and his tale is a quite entertaining Southern Crime Noir.
This Hollywood movie – Fast Charlie is an adaptation of the 2001 crime novel Gun Monkeys by Victor Gischler. As per its description, this book is a fast, furious collage of wit and wise guys, violence and thrills—and a full-throttle run through the dark side of the South State. Florida. Thereby, it narrates a chapter from the life of the hero Charlie Swift.
Bonus info.:- Attempts had been made as far back as 2009 to adapt the novel to film when director Ryuhei Kitamura was slated to direct from a script by Lee Goldberg but fell into development hell until producer Dan Grodnik acquired the project and resurrected it as a directing vehicle for Phillip Noyce with Richard Wenk writing the script. (Source: IMDb)
Synopsis of the Fast Charlie (2023) Movie
Charlie Swift (Pierce Brosnan), aka “Fast Charlie,” is a fixer with a problem: the target he’s whacked is missing his head. And he must prove it’s the intended target to the man who paid for the hit — New Orleans’ most prominent and most ruthless mobster, Beggar Mercado (Gbenga Akinnagbe).
Charlie enlists Marcie Kramer (Morena Baccarin), the victim’s ex-wife and a woman with the backbone and skillset Charlie needs. Dragging Marcie back into a past she was determined to escape sends the two of them on a wild and unpredictable odyssey that’s unexpectedly amusing, action-propelled, and ultimately heartfelt.
Along the way, Charlie and Marcie fight to protect the legacy of Charlie’s best friend and mentor, Stan Mullen (James Caan in his final performance), while bringing down Beggar and his entire operation.
Spoilers Free Review of the Fast Charlie (2023) Movie
The introduction
We have seen 70-year-old actor Pierce Brosnan use his charming screen presence to very good effect in his younger days. A couple of decades ago, he used his delightful and fascinating ways to play James Bond 007 in a bunch of hit movies. Now, even as a veteran his charisma is alive and kicking. So, we enjoyed his portrayal of Charlie Swift’s character. His action scenes still look good. Besides, his one-liners are witty, too.
Pierce Brosnan and Morena Baccarin’s on-screen chemistry is good
More so, when Charlie Swift (Pierce Brosnan) is planning to leave the violent world of crime and retire to lead a peaceful life. And even though, when he meets Marcie Kramer (Morena Baccarin) under challenging circumstances, one can sense the tension in the air. Their playful banter and mutual attraction certainly add love to this crime tale. They look good together on the movie screen. This unconventional love pair wants to walk into the sunset and retire to a peaceful life. Will they be able to do it, that’s the big question.
We have seen Morena Baccarin in Homeland, Deadpool, Gotham, Ode to Joy, The Endgame, etc. And we liked her roles in all those movies and series, too.
It is the last film of actor James Caan (R.I.P.)
Another veteran actor James Caan plays the final role in his long acting career, as he passed away last year in July 2022. In this movie, he played the ageing criminal boss Stan Mullen (James Caan) of the fixer Charlie Swift (Pierce Brosnan) and other members of his small-criminal organization Biloxi mafia in Florida. Both Stan and Charlie wish to live the rest of their old age lives peacefully in this movie. So, this movie is all about whether these two guys and their pals survive to lead a quiet life.
Way back in 1972, actor James Caan played the gangster Santino “Sonny” Corleone in The Godfather movie. For the said role, he was nominated for the 1973 Oscar Awards in the Best Actor in a Supporting Role category. Since his iconic Mafia role, we have admired his towering presence in the TV series and the movies. Some of his well-known movies are Brian’s Song (1971), Rollerball (1976), Misery (1992), Dogville (2003), etc.
The conclusion
Now let us get back to this action-packed thriller movie. The protagonist played by Pierce Brosnan (Charlie Swift) dominates the majority of scenes in this film, and he does well in it. Still, we feel that its writers could have worked to further tighten its script. The fact is, however, despite its flaws, it is a good time-pass movie to watch. Not too taxing on the brain cells, we enjoyed this Southern crime noir set in Florida.
Ratings of this 2023 Southern Crime Noir movie from Hollywood
| FM Rating | 3.35/5 |
| FM Short Comments | We liked the on-screen chemistry between the two leading actors Pierce Brosnan (Charlie Swift) and Morena Baccarin (Marcie Kramer) in this film. In between the crime and action sequences, the romantic tale of the man-meet-woman kept us engaged and entertained. |
Poster of this 2023 Southern Crime Noir movie from Hollywood
Key Details of this 2023 Southern Crime Noir movie from Hollywood
| Genre | Action, Mystery, Thriller, Drama |
| Original language | English (USA) |
| Released in | December 8, 2023 |
| Age-restriction | R (18+) |
| Duration | 1 hour 30 minutes |
| Writers | Richard Wenk & Victor Gischler |
| Director | Phillip Noyce |
| Cast | Pierce Brosnan (Charlie Swift), Morena Baccarin (Marcie Kramer), Gbenga Akinnagbe (Beggar Mercado), James Caan (Stan Mullen), David Chattam (Milt), Christopher Matthew Cook (Lloyd ‘The Freak’ Mercury), etc. |
| Distributor | Vertical |
Trailer of this 2023 Southern Crime Noir movie from Hollywood
If you wish to check another crime tale set in the same Southern State of the USA, then do check out the Florida Man (2023) Series, too.
Featured Image & Poster of the Fast Charlie (2023) Movie | Pics. Credit: Vertical
