Faster (2010 film)

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Theatrical release poster
Directed by George Tillman, Jr.
Produced by Martin Shafer
Liz Glotzer
Tony Gayton
Robert Teitel
Written by Tony Gayton
Joe Gayton
Starring Dwayne Johnson
Billy Bob Thornton
Music by Clint Mansell
Cinematography Michael Grady
Edited by Dirk Westervelt
Castle Rock Entertainment
State Street Pictures
Distributed by CBS Films (United States)
TriStar Pictures (international)
Release dates
  • November 24, 2010 (2010-11-24)
Running time
98 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Budget $24 million[1]
Box office $52,626,443[2]

Faster is a 2010 American action crime film directed by George Tillman, Jr., and starring Dwayne Johnson and Billy Bob Thornton. The film was released in the United States on November 24, 2010.


Driver is being released from prison after talking to the warden who tells him he should be a better person. He exits curtly, breaks into a run, seemingly set on something. He runs until he retrieves his Chevelle LS5 SS; he then drives to an office in Bakersfield where he kills a man.

Driver then goes to the man who gave him the car and the gun and forces him to give him the names and info for the rest of some list he compiled for Driver. Meanwhile, Driver is being tracked down by detective Cicero and Cop, a detective on the verge of retirement whose life is off track due to a debilitating heroin addiction. They investigate the office crime scene and video from the scene. Cicero gets a break in the case when she recognizes Driver. Later, a nameless hitman "Killer" is hired to kill Driver. Killer tells his girlfriend Lily that it is his last job, and while he seems to feel the conflict between his professional life and love life with Lily, he decides to go.

Later, Driver heads to the second name on his list. It is an old man who films his own personal snuff films, and he is in the middle of filming himself taking advantage of a girl he drugged when Driver busts in the door and shoots him dead. Killer has tracked down Driver and initiates a gun fight in the hallway, but Driver escapes. This affects Killer philosophically, who proposes to his girlfriend and takes the case personally.

It is revealed that Cop has a drug problem, along with his estranged wife Marina. Cop and Detective are investigating Driver's past and discover he was double crossed. Cicero remembered Driver from a video of his brother Gary's death, filmed by the man Driver has just killed. On tape, Driver is shot in the head by an unidentified man, but narrowly survives, needing surgery and a metal plate to fix his skull.

Driver goes to his old girlfriend's house. She knows he's killing the people in the video and, after revealing she aborted their unborn child and has begun a new life, she tells him she hopes he succeeds. Driver then goes to Nevada to kill the man who slit his brother Gary's throat. He works as a bouncer in a strip club, and due to security, Driver couldn't bring his gun inside, so instead he stabs him several times with an ice pick and leaves him to die in the bathroom. Meanwhile, both Cop and Killer have gotten word that the man survived the stabbing and is in the hospital. Knowing Driver will go back to finish him off, they converge on the place.

Driver enters the hospital and kills the man when he is in surgery. Cop attempts to bring down Driver but is unsuccessful, however Driver spares his life after seeing his badge. While driving away from the hospital, Driver encounters Killer. After a high speed chase on the freeway, Killer manages to shoot Driver in the neck after Driver shoots out his tires.

Driver goes to the second-to-last name on the list, who turns out to be his stepfather. He believed that his stepfather was the one who arranged to have him and his stepbrother Gary killed, after they refused to give him a share of the money they stole in a bank job they pulled together. He finds out that his father died years before, and his mother stitches the gunshot wound on his neck before he sets off to finish the list. Gary was his stepfather's son from a previous marriage. The last man is a traveling evangelist, and after his service is over and everyone has left, Driver confronts him. The evangelist knows why he is there, and tries to tell him that he has turned his life around, begging for forgiveness. Driver spares him and goes to leave when he is confronted by Killer.

Detective Cicero learns the true identity of the man who shot Driver. She hurries to the church with Cop already on the scene. Killer tells Driver to pick up his gun so they can have a true test of skill. But Driver declines, saying he has no fight with him. Killer then explains he wanted to be better since he could not walk when he was a child.

Cop walks in and shoots Driver in the head. It is revealed that Cop was the man who shot Driver in the video. He gives Killer the money for the job, but he declines, because he wasn't the one who killed him. Killer then departs, telling Cop never to contact him again, likely signifying the end of his career as an assassin. However, Killer calls his wife, telling her that he is coming home. Cop calls his girlfriend, telling her that they will be okay because he closed the case and how he has been reading up on women. It is revealed in pieces that the Cop's wife Marina was Gary's girlfriend and a C.I for the Cop at the time of the robbery, and let the info slip about the bank job and the Cop then put together the crew to take out Gary and Driver. Suddenly, he is shot by Driver, who survived the shot due to the metal plate in his skull.

Detective Cicero arrives on the scene after Driver has already left and finds Cop's body who promptly decides to cover up Cop's involvement in the whole mess presumably to allow his family to receive his benefits and retain some sort of dignity. The movie ends with Driver scattering his brother's ashes in the sea and driving off into the sunset as the avenging spirit of his brother Gary; simultaneously, the Evangelist begins a sermon on the topic of forgiveness, as Driver's mercy gave him a second chance at life and unburdened his spirit from the crimes that were committed 10 years ago. Short Change Hero can be heard as the credits play.



Variety reported in May 2009 that Dwayne Johnson was in final negotiations for his role and that Phil Joanou would be directing.[3] That September it was reported that Joanou had dropped out and George Tillman, Jr. would direct.[4] Salma Hayek was considered for the role of Cicero, but a week before filming was started and she dropped out due to "scheduling issues".[5] Hayek was replaced by Carla Gugino.[6] Principal photography began on February 8, 2010 in Los Angeles, California and continued in Pasadena and Santa Clarita in California.[5]


Studio album by Clint Mansell
Released 2010
Genre Electronic, Rock, Classical, Stage & Screen
Label Lakeshore Records LKS 342022
Producer Clint Mansell, Geoff Foster
Clint Mansell chronology
Last Night
Faster (Music From The Motion Picture) [1]
No. Title Artist(s) Length
1. "Goodbye My Friend"   Guido & Maurizio De Angelis 4:03
2. "I Wanna Be Your Dog"   Iggy Pop 4:05
3. "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)"   Kenny Rogers & The First Edition 3:19
4. "Short Change Hero"   The Heavy 5:21
5. "Grifos Muertos"   Jeffrey Luck Lucas 3:00
6. "John The Revelator"   Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje 0:54
7. "Ten Year Stretch"   Clint Mansell 1:49
8. "History Lesson"   Clint Mansell 3:03
9. "Predators & Prey"   Clint Mansell 7:01
10. "Lost lives"   Clint Mansell 1:53
11. "Lovers"   Clint Mansell 2:51
12. "Hospital Visit"   Clint Mansell 4:34
13. "The Driver Drives"   Clint Mansell 4:27
14. "Family Matters"   Clint Mansell 2:36
15. "On A Mission"   Clint Mansell 3:37
16. "Redemption"   Clint Mansell 1:33


The film received mixed reviews from critics. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reports that 44% of 81 critics have given the film a positive review, with a rating average of 5 out of 10.[7] It holds a Metacritic score of 44 out of 100.[8]

Roger Ebert for the Chicago Sun-Times said that, "Rotate the plot, change the period, spruce up the dialogue, and this could have been a hard boiled 1940s noir. But it doesn't pause for fine touches and efficiently delivers action for an audience that likes one-course meals".[9]

Box office[edit]

The film grossed $12,200,000 over the five day Thanksgiving release. It stayed in theaters until February 10, 2011. The film collections quickly declined and ultimately grossed $52,626,443 worldwide.[10] The film was produced on a $24 million budget.

Home media[edit]

DVD was released in Region 1 in the United States on March 1, 2011, and also Region 2 in the United Kingdom on 1 August 2011, it was distributed by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.


  1. ^ Fritz, Ben (2010-11-23). "Movie projector: 'Harry Potter' to rule again as four new movies open, three competing for women". Los Angeles Times (Tribune Company). Retrieved 2010-11-26. 
  2. ^ "Faster (2010)". The Numbers. Retrieved 2013-12-29. 
  3. ^ Fleming, Michael (May 6, 2009). "Dwayne Johnson in final talks for 'Faster Paster'". Variety (Reed Business Information). Retrieved February 23, 2010. 
  4. ^ Fleming, Michael (September 29, 2009). "Tillman in talks to direct 'Faster'". Variety (Reed Business Information). Retrieved February 23, 2010. 
  5. ^ a b "Salma Hayek Drops Out Of Rock Actioner". Deadline Hollywood. January 31, 2010. Retrieved February 22, 2010. 
  6. ^ "Carla Gugino Replaces Salma Hayek in Faster". /Film. February 17, 2010. Retrieved February 22, 2010. 
  7. ^ "Faster Movie Reviews, Pictures". Rotten Tomatoes. Flixster. Retrieved March 12, 2011. 
  8. ^ "Faster Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More". Metacritic. 2010-12-13. Retrieved 2012-11-03. 
  9. ^ Ebert, Roger (November 23, 2010). "Faster :: :: Reviews". Chicago Sun-Times. Sun-Times Media Group. Retrieved December 7, 2010. 
  10. ^ "Faster (2010) - Box Office Mojo". 

External links[edit]