There are a lot of stories about heroes obsessed with revenge in modern cinema. For script writers, vendetta is an excellent motive that can be used in almost every genre. But most often these motives are widespread in various criminal tapes. A vivid example of such a project can be called the crime thriller directed by George Tillman Jr. “Faster than a bullet” (actors: D. Johnson, B. Bob Thornton, O. Jackson-Cohen, C. Gugino, M. Grace). It’s almost impossible to come up with something innovative in this direction, so the screenwriters of the film, brothers Tony and Joe Gateton, can only be thanked for the strong script, according to which the action movie of the “old school” model was shot, without any frills and unnecessary branches.
Plot. Prologue
The plot of the movie “Faster than a bullet”, the actors and roles of which correspond to the general author’s concept, begins with the events of ten years ago. Four brave guys decides to rob a bank. One of the raiders, Gary James (Matt Gerald), goes to business because he owes a decent amount to the local criminal elements. As a result, the bandits throws the hired carrier, Gary asks for help from his brother Cullen (Dwayne Johnson), and he involuntarily becomes an accomplice. As a result, three loser robbers die at the hands of the mafia, the surviving Cullen ends up in jail. This completes the peculiar prologue, the main narrative of the action movie “Faster than a Bullet” begins. The actors who took part in the filming process emphasized the semantic load of such an introduction, explaining its significance for understanding the motives that drive their characters.
10 years later
Callen, ten years in prison, has a plan of revenge. Having been released, he immediately proceeds to its implementation. Tracking down murderers, without a shadow of doubt, he methodically deals with everyone, completing his bloody justice. Investigate the impudent killings entrusted to Cope (Billy Bob Thornton), a drug addict with a dark past. In addition, one of the culprits hires a strange killer-millionaire (Oliver Jackson-Cohen), a handsome man who is fond of shooting at live targets. Further, the plot of the film “Faster than a bullet”, the actors of the project crew described as a bloody orgy of revenge.
Action with "Rock" or a drama with Thornton?
Perhaps the authors should tighten the intrigue longer and longer, and so the personality of the main antagonist becomes known to the viewer in the middle of the timing of the movie. It seems that director George Tillman Jr. For a long time I could not decide what was shooting: either a furious action movie with Dwayne Johnson, or a dramatic thriller with Billy B. Thornton. Therefore, the project “Faster than a bullet” (actors with photos on the poster do not look like dramatic heroes) sometimes heels in one or the other genre variety.
Some viewers, watching the movie, wondered what Dwayne Johnson was doing in this film. “Rock” looked great in the companions of Diesel in the implacable “Fast and the Furious 5”, but in “Faster than a bullet” (the actors, as one, confirmed this theory), its powerful texture worked idly. In his place could take any charismatic actor with a less outstanding physical form. The fact is that the driver (Cullen), despite his warlike appearance, uses physical force in only one episode. Watching a movie, you begin to seriously feel sorry for Johnson when you watch how his talent is spent in vain. How can one reveal the depth and drama of a character when, according to the script, he has only two dozen capacious phrases?
Actors and supporting roles
Actor Billy Bob Thornton played without a hitch the role of a corrupt cop addict. The actor’s dramatic talent is beyond doubt, he proved it in the crap comedy “Bad Santa”. Many film critics compared his character (not in Torton's favor) with the hero of Nicolas Cage in the crime drama Bad Lieutenant. The tear of Cage Billy was clearly not enough.
The rest of the actors of the movie “Faster than a Bullet” did not have enough stars from the horizon, demonstrating a professional, but even game, conscientiously fulfilled their fees. However, the colorful character of the pastor performed by Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaj, familiar to the viewer from the LOST series, will surely be remembered by the viewer. And the episodic appearance in the role of the head of the prison Tom Berenger also will not be left without attention. There are no complaints to the character of Carla Gugino, and even more so to the talent of the actress.
Killer for dollar
The character of Oliver Jackson-Cohen is surprising and bewildering, but it is rather the flaws of the scriptwriters. In search of thrills, an ex-climber with a bunch of spectacular cars and beauties takes to kill for a dollar. In order to calm the thirst for adrenaline and drive, he amuses his vanity. Everything would be fine, only Jackson-Cohen's character does not play a significant role in what is happening on the screen. The millionaire killer seems like an absolutely alien element sewn by the creators to the plot in white thread. Why is he present in the story, pronouncing cardboard phrases, most do not understand.
Nobody sobbed in unison
Director Tillman, you see, really wanted the audience to be imbued with sympathy and understanding for the misadventures of the protagonist. The director even sacrificed episodes with a rich action in some places, highlighting the dramatization of the narrative, forcing Skala to put up a mean male tear. But while watching, the watchers did not cry in unison, it is hard to feel sympathy for a character with such a severe appearance, heavy look, and even armed to the teeth. The viewer, of course, is sorry for the murdered brother of the protagonist, but it is rather difficult to justify the violence caused by the vendetta. The picture did not have enough drama. I would like to wish the performer the lead role of a more professional agent, otherwise, continuing to act in such roles, “The Rock” may find itself where the half-forgotten Jean-Claude Van Damme and Stephen Seagal are doing now.