‘Fast Charlie’: the Pierce Brosnan noir crime thriller returns to the Netflix charts
The never-ending roster of Netflix originals has its own way of extending subscribers’ screen time. But by the looks of the platform’s weekly Top 10 charts, the non-originals are clearly no less expert in the field, including the intense Pierce Brosnan action thriller Fast Charlie.
During the week of August 3rd to August 9th, the 2023 noir crime thriller amassed 2.6million views, ranking tenth on Netflix’s most popular movies chart and becoming one of the Top 10 trending titles in 20 countries. This marks the film’s second resurgence in Netflix rankings within a period of barely two months.
Directed by Phillip Noyce, Fast Charlie, based on Victor Gischler’s 2001 pulp novel Gun Monkeys, stars Brosnan as retired Marine Corps officer, veteran mob fixer and hitman Charlie Swift, who finds himself at the centre of a high-stakes mission gone wrong.
Despite successfully killing a rival named Rollo Kramer, he has simply no way to prove the victim’s identity to a ruthless New Orleans mobster who is supposed to pay for the hit, thanks to his clumsy partner, who accidentally blows off Rollo’s head from the body.
While that’s just the tip of the iceberg of problems, chaos, and twists Fast Charlie boasts, it explains why Netflix viewers have turned to the adrenaline-fuelled, action-packed movie in the first place.
For those curious about the reasons behind the film’s rekindled popularity, well, Fast Charlie originally had a limited theatrical run, grossing under $1million in total box office earnings, followed by a quiet VOD drop. But then again, in all fairness, the movie may not have enjoyed a massive theatrical exposure. However, it has an 84% Rotten Tomatoes score, which is nothing less than a badge of critics’ honour.
Although that figure speaks for itself, its current availability on Netflix ensures broad visibility and essentially turns the movie into a sleeper hit.
Besides Brosnan’s steadfast star appeal, the crime thriller benefits heavily from Morena Baccarin’s portrayal of Marcie. While the co-star chemistry showcases a witty, grounded dynamic that elevates the movie beyond the seriousness of the genre, Fast Charlie also features the legendary James Caan in his final movie role before his tragic demise in July 2022, adding a bittersweet appeal for cine buffs.
As a fast-paced, straightforward action thriller, Fast Charlie delivers a mixed punch in just about 90 minutes. So, if you’re still having second thoughts, maybe it’s time you give it a try!