Faster [Blu-ray]

Director: George Tillman Jr.

Overview

An ex-convict seeks revenge for his brother's death in this action-packed revenge thriller starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. Ten years ago, Driver (Johnson) was part of a bank heist gone horribly awry. In the chaos of the botched robbery, his brother wound up dead. Now Driver is a free man, and he's determined to punish the men who killed his late sibling. But settling the score won't be easy, because despite being just a few days shy of retirement, a veteran cop (Billy Bob Thornton) isn't about to let a massacre take place on his watch, and a hotshot hitman (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) has Driver locked in his sights. Unfortunately for Driver, the closer he gets to his targets, the more he puts himself at risk. Later, just as Driver starts to think he's gotten everyone on his list, he discovers that one name seems to be missing.

Product Details

Release Date:	03/01/2011
UPC:	0043396371484
Original Release:	2010
Rating:	R
Source:	Sony Pictures
Region Code:	A
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Language:	English
Time:	1:38:00
Sales rank:	21,464

Special Features

Alternate ending and deleted scenes with director's introductions; Blu-ray exclusives:; "Criminals and Cops: the Cast of Faster"; "Weapons and Wheels: The Guns, Cars and Stunts of Faster"; Animatics ; MovieIQ+sync

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Dwayne Johnson	Le conducteur
Billy Bob Thornton	Le flic
Oliver Jackson-Cohen	Le tueur
Carla Gugino	Cicero
Maggie Grace	Lily
Moon Bloodgood	Marina
Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje	L'?vang?liste
Tom Berenger	Warden
Mike Epps	Grone
Xander Berkeley	Mallory
Courtney Gains	le t?l?marketeur
Lester Speight	Hovis "Baphomet" Nixon
John Cirigliano	Kenneth Tyson
Jan Hoag	Receptionist
Michael Irby	Vaquero
Michael Blain-Rozgay	TV Anchor
Aaron Behr	Cohort #1
Jeff Daniel Phillips	Cohort #2
Matt Gerald	Drivers' Brother
Aedin Mincks	Tommy
Mauricio Lopez	Prison Guard
Jennifer Carpenter	Woman
Stephanie Nash	TV Reporter
Geraldine Keams	Preacher's Wife
Buzz Belmondo	Preacher
Oliver Jackson	Actor
The Rock	Actor
Josh Clark	Actor
Clint Mansell	Composer

Technical Credits

Joe Gayton

Joe Gayton	Screenwriter,Screenwriter,Producer,Executive Producer
Martin Shafer	Producer
Liz Glotzer	Producer
Robert Teitel	Producer
Dara Weintraub	Executive Producer,Producer
Sarah Halley Finn	Casting
Darrin Prescott	Stunts
David Altenau	Special Effects
Odin Benitez	Sound Effects
Jason Brennan	Sound Effects
Michael Ferdie	Sound Effects
Roy K. Cancino	Special Effects

Editorial Reviews

Dwayne Johnson gets back in touch with his mean side in Faster, a twisting, hard-edged revenge flick that marks the former WWE brawler's long-awaited return to R-rated action fare after a five-year foray into family-friendly cinema. That's right -- the kid gloves are off, and the knuckles underneath are still capable of shattering jaws and flattening noses. It's good to see Johnson back in form, and with a supporting cast that includes Billy Bob Thornton, Carla Gugino, and not one but two Lost veterans, Faster hits its pulpy stride early on and barely pauses to reload once the bullets start to fly. Ten years ago, Driver (Johnson) was part of a bank heist gone horribly awry. In the chaos of the botched robbery, his brother wound up dead. Now Driver is a free man, and he's determined to punish the men who killed his sibling. Settling the score won't be easy, though, because despite being just a few days shy of retirement, a veteran cop (Thornton) isn't about to let a massacre take place on his watch, and a hotshot hitman (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) has Driver locked in his sights. Unfortunately for Driver, the closer he gets to his targets, the more he puts himself at risk. Later, just as he starts to think he's gotten everyone on his list, he discovers that one name seems to be missing. Faster isn't the kind of movie that aims to reinvent the revenge subgenre, but that isn't to say that director George Tillman Jr. and sibling writers Tony and Joe Gayton aren't looking to have a little fun within the familiar framework. By introducing the central figures of Faster by their occupations rather than names (Driver, Cop, Killer), the Gayton brothers clue us in early on that they already know the rules of the game, and use that as a means of toying with our preconceptions about the characters. Meanwhile, Tillman lays on the style extra thick, striking a delicate balance between efficiency and flamboyance that helps to carry the restless energy of the opening scenes into the main plot. It's here that the influence of Italian crime cinema on Faster first becomes apparent (thanks in large part to the effective use of Guido and Maurizio de Angelis' "Goodbye My Friend" -- the main theme from Enzo G. Castellari's exciting 1974 actioner Street Law), though observant cinema junkies are sure to have a blast picking out the many other movie references scattered throughout. Later, as the writers throw us some bloody pieces of the puzzle, the motivations for Driver's revenge spree come into sharp focus, providing the Gayton brothers with the opportunity to instill their characters with some revealing quirks while simultaneously raising the stakes. These are the scenes in which Thornton shines brightest, his interactions with his portly, nonathletic son providing the perfect seasoning to a story that's refreshingly grave in an era when earnest and hip have become mutually exclusive. But the filmmakers are careful not to hold any one beat for longer than absolutely necessary, despite touching on such heavy themes as addiction, the sins of the father, and the tragic, cyclical nature of revenge. It seems like at some point in their careers, every action star gets the urge to prove that they can do more than snap someone's neck between their thighs while sliding down a staircase firing dueling Berettas. You needn't be a wrestling fan to recognize that Dwayne Johnson has all the charisma of a classic action icon, but while comedy comes naturally to the laid-back star with the broad smile, he's still at his best when cast as a hulking force of nature -- and that's precisely what he is in Faster. As movie fans, it can be easy to get so swept up in the search for something new and original that we overlook the efforts that tweak a formula just enough to keep it interesting. Movies like Faster aren't as concerned with starting new cinematic trends as they are with toying with tradition. It's that fact that makes the film both highly watchable and an easy recommendation for action fans.