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Archie Kao (right) is a small-time drug dealer and Dana Lee a small shop owner in Fast Money.
Normally these reviews for Indie Flicks are posted on Thursday, but we’re making an exception here. First, yesterday was so insane I just didn’t have a chance to do anything. Second, this film is just too good to wait another week.
It isn’t often that I get really blown away by a flick, but I have to say, I was blown away by Fast Money. This fast paced, highly stylized short film is not only terrifically directed, but acted and written as well. This is definitely not a hollow action film, there’s heart and morality that come into play in ways that were smart and sharp.
The story centers on Jin (Archie Kao), who gets fired by his boss, Mr. Fong (Dana Lee), for dealing drugs in a small, Chinatown shop in Los Angeles. He hides this from his mother (Jeanne Sakata), and then teams up with the reckless Pistol Pete (Scott Ly) to rob Mr. Fong. But things quickly go wrong, and Jin finds his life of crime takes tolls he never expected.
The film runs a quick 14 minutes, and moves fairly quickly. There’s a Michael Bay/Tony Scott style to the visuals, but it’s the heart of the film that makes these parts worth watching. That comes in the form of the characters, all of whom feel genuine. Archie Kao puts in a strong performance, as Jin runs the gambit of emotions. Scott Ly is also effectively vicious as the vicious partner in crime.
Easily my favorite scene is when Jin and Pistol rob Mr. Fong. It is not only emotionally effective, but the action sequence is wonderfully crafted. A touch of old-fashioned Kung Fu in a gritty action flick. Dana Lee is terrific in his limited role as Fong.
Writer/director Jerry Chan has managed to construct an action film with soul. His characters are interesting and rich, and the story has something more to say that flashy images. There’s emotion here, and that’s what made Fast Money such an enjoyable film to watch.
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