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Fast Five

Fast Five (2011)

Apr 20, 2011 2h 10m Action Thriller Crime

Former cop Brian O'Conner partners with ex-con Dom Toretto on the opposite side of the law. Since Brian and Mia Toretto broke Dom out of custody, they've blown across many borders to elude authorities. Now backed into a corner in Rio de Janeiro, they must pull one last job in order to gain their freedom.

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Directed by Justin Lin

Cast

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Crew

Director
  • Justin Lin
Producer
  • Neal H. Moritz
  • Vin Diesel
  • Michael Fottrell

Reviews

ohlalipop

I'm not really a fan of these kinds of movies. I haven't even seen parts 1 and 2. I've seen part 3 (Tokyo Drift) which I think was a waste of time. I've seen part 4 just because everyone's watching it and surprisingly I liked it. I was even surprised to find out that Bryan O'Conner (Paul Walker) was a policeman. Haha!

So here I am, watching the fifth installment. Justine wanted to watch it badly and since I have nothing to do, I decided to accompany her. She was on leave the whole week and she just got back from Palawan. So before watching the movie, the 2 of us had dinner at Jack's Loft. I told her that we should buy tickets first but because we were lazy we forgot about it. When it was an hour before the movie, we were surprised. Sold out. Well, nearly sold out. There were like less than 10 seats. So we still went in line and luckily got seats even if the seats were bad and we were seated separately from each other.

I liked this movie. Although it was very unrealistic. (Hello? Where's the government of Rio?) I like how The Rock was there. I like him. I don't like Vin Diesl. I don't understand a word coming out of his mouth. Jordana was still pretty but she's not as pretty in this film. She's too thin. But all in all I liked it.

Feb 9, 2017

The Movie Mob
8/10

**Fast Five brings the action, beloved old characters, exciting new ones, and a whole lot of fun to the Fast franchise and the heist genre.**

Fast 4 and Fast 5 are the best of the Fast & Furious franchise. Fast 4 redeemed the series after the failure of Tokyo Drift by bringing back Vin Diesel and the cast and family of the first film. Then Fast 5 expands and adds to the crew with fan-favorite characters from across the series, including Han (Kang), Roman (Gibson), Tej (Ludacris), Gisele (Gadot), and more. The Toretto family plans a massive heist to buy their freedom but hot on their tale is Dwayne Johnson’s Hobbs, a perfect foil to Diesel’s Toretto. The face-off between these characters is epic! Fast Five’s bonkers action is a little more grounded than later entries, but it’s still outrageous fun. It feels kind of like The Italian Job, directed by Michael Bay. Fast Five launched the Fast Franchise into another decade of insane stunts and stories with great characters and commitment to embracing its cheesy awesomeness.

Sep 17, 2022

CinemaSerf
7/10

Picking up hot on the heels of the last film, the newly escaped "Dom" (Vin Diesel), his ex-FBI pal "O'Conner" (Paul Walker) and "Mia" (Jordan Brewster) have to keep skipping one step ahead of the pursuing law led by "Hobbs" (Dwayne Johnson) and, whilst cornered in Rio, they must assemble everyone with driving skills so as to thwart the ambitions of drug lord "Reyes" (Joaquim de Almeida) whom they have seriously hacked off. This effort sacrifices a little of the pace and speed of the other films and tries to focus on a slightly stronger story with some better characterisations - that does mean that it can be a bit on the slow side at times and maybe we get just one thoughtful pose from Diesel too many, but as we head towards a fairly predictable denouement this easily (for my money, anyway) tops the list of F&F films before clearly teeing us up for number 6. I think it's closer in quality and standard to the first film - and still has plenty of burnt rubber and lively stunts to keep it watchable.

May 15, 2023

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Thematic Analysis

This high-octane Action/Thriller/Crime film balances spectacular sequences with character-driven moments. Unlike many films in the genre, Fast Five distinguishes itself through its exceptional pacing and meaningful stakes for its protagonists.

Director Justin Lin brings their distinctive visual style to this film, continuing their exploration of themes seen in their previous works while adding new elements. Their approach to pacing and visual storytelling creates a viewing experience that rewards close attention.

Released in 2011, the film exists within a cultural context that continues to evolve with our understanding of its themes. Its critical acclaim reflects its artistic achievements and its place in cinema history.

Did You Know?

  • The production of Fast Five took approximately 16 months from pre-production to final cut.
  • With a budget of $125.0 million, the film proved to be a financial success, earning back its investment and more.
  • The final cut of the film runs for 130 minutes, though the director's initial assembly was reportedly 184 minutes long.
  • The costume department created over 173 unique costume pieces for the production.
  • Some visual effects sequences took up to 10 months to complete.
  • The cast underwent specialized training for 3 weeks before filming began.

Historical Context

  • In 2011, when this film is released:
  • Smartphones and social media had transformed daily life and communication.
  • Political polarization was intensifying in many countries.
  • Streaming platforms were disrupting traditional distribution models and changing how audiences consumed films.

How This Film Stands Out

While Fast Five shares thematic elements with other films in its genre, it distinguishes itself through its unique approach to storytelling, visual style, and character development.

Unlike Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, which takes a more conventional approach to its subject matter, Fast Five subverts genre expectations by exploring its themes with greater nuance.

While films like Akira and Star Wars explore similar territory, Fast Five stands apart through its distinctive directorial vision and pacing.

This film's unique contribution to cinema lies in its bold artistic choices and willingness to challenge viewer expectations, making it a valuable addition to its genre.

Details

  • Release Date: April 20, 2011
  • Runtime: 2h 10m
  • Budget: $125,000,000
  • Revenue: $626,100,000

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