Pierce Brosnan And James Caan's Overlooked Action Thriller Is Killing It On Netflix

Severely overlooked but nevertheless a worthy watch, the Pierce Brosnan and James Caan-led film "Fast Charlie" is exactly the type of movie that can benefit from the accessibility of the streaming era. Its Netflix success is proof of this, too; As of June 10, the 2023 action thriller was the streaming service's second most viewed film in the U.S., with only the star-studded 2026 Brett Goldstein romantic comedy "Office Romance" ahead of it in the Top 10 charts. 

It's probably fair to say that few fans would single out "Fast Charlie" as one of the finest moments in either Brosnan or Caan's careers, in part because so few fans have even seen the film. Director Phillip Noyce's movie brought in just a touch over $260,000 at the global box office, but it nevertheless holds a notable place in the actors' filmographies for two reasons: It's a genuinely fun flick that has impressed both critics and viewers, and it's also the last movie James Caan was in before he died.

"Fast Charlie" was indeed the last film Caan worked on before his death in 2022. In an interview with DiscussingFilm, Brosnan revealed that Caan knew the end was near while they worked on the movie, and described the filming experience. "We had a very short time together," Brosnan said. "And James, Jimmy — he knew that he was close. He had given up his time and so every day was poignant. We had been friends for many years and he was like a father figure to me. Little Pierce was such a huge fan of James Caan's work."

Given Caan's situation, it's no wonder that Brosnan is the focal point of "Fast Charlie." He plays Charlie Swift, the longtime fixer and protégé of mobster Stan Mullen (Caan). After a hit gone wrong causes a crime boss called Beggar Mercado (Gbenga Akinnagbe) to take Stan out, it's up to Charlie and a taxidermist called Marcie (Morena Baccarin) to survive the aftermath and get back at Beggar. 

Any fan of twisty, charming crime films will have a pretty good idea of what's going on here and perhaps will even guess how things play out. Still, the capable work of Brosnan, Caan, and everyone else involved is more than enough to keep you entertained. It's not one of Caan's best or worst movies, but it's a memorable story of revenge that's by no means a bad end to what was a stellar career.