THE MOVIE PAGES presents VIN DIESEL & in FAST & FURIOUS 4 fast&furious4.htm

What Do The Critics Say?

"The fastest, most furious movie ever. It is so fast, you'll be furious with excitement. I'm going to try to write my review fast, but that might make my editor furious. It really is the perfect action movie. It knows exactly what it is and it's totally fricking awesome. It's full of callbacks to all three films, and they steal from the best other franchises too: Lethal Weapon, Bourne. It's a compendium of all the greats."
Fred Topel CAN MAGAZINE
" Be under no illusion that Fast and Furious is anything other than an all out, fast cars, hot bodies, in your face, action thriller. This is not rocket science, it won’t tax your brain, it won’t win any Oscars but it will have you on the edge of your seat and give you a great two hours of adrenaline pumping entertainment."
Simon Thompson HEART 106.2
"There's plenty of action, long-legged babes and wild stunts in which cars speed underground, above ground and in the air, spinning, turning, inverting and crashing in spectacular fashion."
Louise Keller URBAN CINEFILE
"The movie begins with a superlative action sequence, as the gang carries out a truck hijacking. The action scenes deliver, and car fetishists will find much to love."
Stephen Silver THE TREND
"If you are a fan [of the franchise], I think there is absolutely some good fun to be had. Don’t expect to care too much about the plot or anything else for that matter. But if you just want to see some thrilling action sequences and a ridiculously implausible finale that will make about half of the audience mildly cheer, then you could certainly do worse."
JimmyO JOBLO'S MOVIE EMPORIUM
"Instant immersion is the style of this franchise, plunging audiences into high octane race and chase mode from frame 1. And it works; the target audience will sit with flared nostrils and white knuckles as the pedal hits the metal and the engines roar in mad unison. The chase and race scenes are shot with attention to the physical context so we get some idea of the big picture, not just the fuzzy close ups many lazy filmmakers rely on."
Andrew L Urban URBAN CINEFILE

"Thrilling ride with high speed chases and action packed fighting that will satisfy any appetite. All the original stars come out at full force. Vin Diesel steps back to the lead role in a big way. Much more enjoyable than the previous two attempts, with better performances and eye catching vehicles. "Fast & Furious" was a thrilling ride with high speed chases and action packed fighting that will satisfy any appetite. Race to theatres to catch this one."
Jolene Mendez ENTERTAINMENT SPECTUM
"The sequel that SHOULD have followed The Fast and the Furious... sharp editing, cool stunts, and cars going way too fast still make for a fun time at the movies."
Kevin A. Ranson MOVIECRYPT
"The reunion is fun and frantic, like the original on double nitro."
Desson Thomson WASHINGTON POST
"Wild car chases and ridiculous humor don’t make a film good, but they sure can make it fun to watch."
Patrick Parker PREMIERE MAGAZINE
"The good news is that the movie's speedy and strong enough to deliver some well-tuned excitement."
James Rocchi MSN MOVIES
"One of the first great sequels for 2009! non-stop fun from 0 to 200."
Clint Morris MOVIEHOLE
"Fast & Furious is all about the speed and crash-boom-bam of the high-octane action, and on that score, it delivers admirably."
Deva Velez THEDIVAREVIEW
"Starting off with a high-speed gas heist on the asphalt and moving on to a decent foot chase right after that, the movie sets a quick pace early on and only rests for a bit of emotional brooding, which may or may not be seen as the film's one downfall. No matter what, it's safe to say that this entirely acceptable retooling of the franchise makes for a satisfying experience for those who enjoy four-wheeled chases, hot bodies, hot cars, and a tall dose of tough-guy machismo."
Jeremy Wheeler TV GUIDE'S MOVIE GUIDE

The Inside Story From illegal underground street racing in Los Angeles and money laundering in Miami to drifts on customized rides across perilous Tokyo courses, one series built on speed has become a global sensation since its origins more than nine years ago. Now, in the next chapter, the four original characters reunite for the first time and come home to where it all began. A 1998 Vibe magazine article on street racing clubs set the wheels in motion for what would become one of the most beloved and profitable franchises in Universal Pictures’ history. In 2001, we met champion underground street racer Dominic Toretto and his archnemesis, LAPD police officer Brian O’Conner. Over the course of two hours in "The Fast and the Furious" (which took $US207,283,925 worldwide), we watched two men on opposite sides of the law race stunning machines, brawl together and form an unlikely, begrudging friendship. Though they went their separate ways at the end of the film: Dom as an illegal ex-pat to Mexico and Brian to work as an FBI agent in Miami: we followed Brian’s career in the second episode, "2 Fast 2 Furious" (grossing $US236,350,661 worldwide), and caught a brief glimpse of Dom at the end of the third actioner of the franchise, "The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift" (grossing $US158,468,292 worldwide). With the subsequent movies, the series continued to build an international fan base and rack up impressive box-office grosses. The lasting visual of Dom thundering across the Mexican border at the end of the original, however, left moviegoers wanting more adventures from our antihero: as well as more stories about the two women in his world: Dom’s girlfriend Letty and his sister Mia (who happens to be the love of Brian’s life). Eight years later producer Neal Moritz wanted to again deliver a film that takes the pulse of pop culture. He knew it was the right moment to bring audiences the fourth installment of the popular series. It was time to come home. It was not, however, always a given that this chapter would be greenlit. "We’ve had a great time and a very successful run with the first three. But if we were really going to go to the next level, we had to bring back Vin and Paul," Moritz explained. "We had a lot of conversations over a lot of years. We were really lucky to pull it off." Reuniting the original film's foursome of Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Michelle Rodriguez and Jordana Brewster began, simply enough, with Diesel’s wildly successful cameo in "Tokyo Drift", directed by Justin Lin. After seeing a rough cut of the film, Diesel agreed to appear in the final act of the third episode. Based on the audience response to Diesel’s cameo, Moritz ("Click") knew that fans were eager to revisit the Dom-Brian saga. "The combination of the two of them and seeing how they approach the same scene together is something we can’t invent. That rapport and chemistry either happens on screen or it just doesn’t," Motitz notes. "A brotherhood still exists between the two. One is brought up on the bad side of the tracks, the other on the good side. Brian is now blending into Dom’s world, and they have each other’s backs," says producer Michael Fottrell ("Sweet Home Alabama"). "That blood ethic exists between the two of them so that they protect one another, no matter who’s right or who’s wrong." "I like to do sequels that feel like they are a continuation of the original story," says Vin Diesel who not only reprises his role as Dom, but is also a producer on the fourth instalment. "This Fast & Furious script met that criteria." Diesel says he listened to the fans who were almost telling him: "Hey Vin, don’t be too precious on the story: get in there a nd do the movie. We want to see it."

To bring the series full circle, the filmmakers looked to screenwriter Chris Morgan ("Tokyo Drift" & "Wanted"). Like Moritz and Fottrell, Morgan was keen to reunite the brotherhood. "I’m all about the cars and the culture and the action," Morgan ("Cellular") admits, "but what set "The Fast and the Furious" apart from its limitations was the relationship between these two guys. To be told that you can go back and play with all that is a dream come true." As the Morgan got to work on the screenplay, the filmmakers focused their energy on recruiting 2000 and 2001 Young Hollywood Award winner Paul Walker, 2001 Independent Spirit Award winner Michelle Rodriguez ("Girlfight") and, Jordana Brewster (Nikki Munson in 104 episodes of "As the World Turns") to commit to a sequel. "I didn’t think I was going make another one," Walker recalls. "And then Neal told me about the master plan." So what did he think? "Why not? I’ll have a good time doing it, and I’ll be hanging out with people I like spending time with." Brian and Dom have different driving styles that mirror their personalities and perspectives on life. Walker felt those distinctions underscored the real-life dynamic between Diesel and him. "It’s a fun contrast. It’s East Coast meets West Coast. He’s straight up New York, and I’m as California as it gets. But for some reason, we get along really well. It’s the same thing with Brian and Dom." In 2001, Justin Lin was a film student who enjoyed the ride along with the opening night audience. As a filmmaker, this project gave him the opportunity to make a movie that respected the series he had helped to develop, and to introduce the franchise to a new generation. "It was a no-brainer. Vin and Paul were coming back, and both Michelle and Jordana’s deals were about to close. It’s exciting to have the opportunity to revisit the past, but at the same time explore and build upon a lot of elements with these characters. There was a generation of kids that embraced The Fast and the Furious. It’s exciting to up the ante on something like that." The women of 'Fast & Furious' are as strong-willed and skilled as their male counterparts. From her first moment on screen, Michelle Rodriguez ("S.W.A.T.") has made an indelible impression as the sexy gearhead Letty, a character Diesel refers to as his "first love on film." Rodriguez looked forward to developing Dom and Letty’s relationship in the latest chapter. "The stakes are higher. Letty and Dom are on the run, breaking the law wherever they go. There’s a slight Bonnie and Clyde feel to it. The lingering question now is if Dom will risk his love for her in the name of this rush that they’re both addicted to." For Brewster ("D.E.B.S."), the chance to revisit familiar terrain with old friends was a welcome one. Agreeing to return with her crew turned out to be even more of a homecoming when she learned Lin would be directing. The actress had worked with the director and co-starred with James Franco on the drama "Annapolis" and looked forward to working with Lin again. Brewster soon realized that reprising the role wasn’t as easy as she had anticipated. She expected the character Morgan wrote to be riddled with bitterness when faced with the simultaneous return of Dom and Brian. "As an actress, you always lean towards the dramatic," she said. "After losing so much, I wanted Mia to hold on to her anger. But Justin intended to keep the women in the film strong and resilient, so Mia has moved on. It’s a testament to his ability as a director, because he puts in as much care into these characters as he does with all the action." With the main stars signed, the next task was to find the villains who would go head to head with the likes of Dom, Brian, Letty and Mia.

To complement the returning cast members, the filmmakers and casting directors looked to an array of supporting talent. John Ortiz ("American Gangster") and Laz Alonso ("Jarhead") were just the actors to fit the bill as, respectively, drug runners Campos and Fenix. Also joining the team is stunning newcomer and Miss Israel 2004, twenty three year old Gal Gadot. An Israeli native, she makes her feature film debut in "Fast & Furious 4" as the treacherous Gisele, a liaison for Dom and Brian to Braga’s empire. Returning for a cameo is Dom’s close friend Han, played by Tokyo Drift’s Sung Kang ("Die Hard 4.0"). To round out the drug runners who rouse Toretto and O’Conner and set the stage for the homecoming that rocks the L.A. street racing scene, Lin and the casting directors selected a rogues’ gallery of bad guys and badder girls. And then there's the cars! A car defines the driver, and drivers have their unapologetic preferences when it comes to their rides: import or muscle. The Fast & Furious crew embraces this rivalry and has rolled out close to two hundred and fifty of the baddest muscle cars and the sexiest tuners to appeal to gearheads who appreciate American heavy metal: or to those who prefer the sublime beauty of a Japanese or European import tuned to perfection. The filmmakers raised the stakes once again, this time giving Dom and Brian an arsenal of cars to push the limits of speed and endurance. When Morgan put pen to paper, it was a foregone conclusion that the 1970 Dodge Charger that died a spectacular death at the end of "The Fast and the Furious" would be resurrected for Dom in "Fast & Furious 4". "Not only is the Charger an awesome looking car, but there’s so much more to it. It tells a story; it represents the soul of Dom," says screenwriter Morgan. For his part, Brian mixes it up with a tried and true performance import extraordinaire: the 1998 Nissan Skyline GTR, as well as the versatile upstart 2009 Subaru WRX STi. Dennis McCarthy previously worked with Lin and Moritz on Tokyo Drift, a universe that featured primarily Asian imports with a handful of American cars. Once decisions were made about models and makes for this movie, McCarthy had the daunting task of hunting down multiple versions of these often difficult to find classic automobiles. The next task was no easier: Build up and customize them so they were up to the rigors of filming. It was the Dodge Charger that posed the biggest challenge for McCarthy and his team of mechanics. None of the original cars from The Fast and the Furious remained (save on the Universal Studios tour), so a countrywide treasure hunt ensued to literally piece together a total of seven Chargers, as well as some custom rebuilds. "Dodge Chargers, in any condition, are extremely hard to find," McCarthy explained, "and we went through roughly seven for filming: so that’s a lot of parts. There just weren’t enough out there." With the expectation that the Charger had to return, McCarthy’s team came up with a viable solution. "We decided to build a mold of the body out of fiberglass. It worked out really well for us." In addition to the hero cars driven by the core cast, the filmmakers needed to complement the action with a number of unique background cars that audiences have come to demand from each film of the franchise. A McCarthy-found standout that had both cast and crew awestruck was a stunning candy-apple red 1969 Camaro, aptly named "The Big Red." She is one of the fastest cars in the world and clocks in at 220 plus miles per hour (354 kph +). The film was shot over eighty five days, the majority of which was in L.A. and its surrounding suburbs. Synopsis

For eight years, ex-con Dominic Toretto has committed himself to a fugitive existence holed up in the Dominican Republic. Living on the run with the sole remnant of his past, Letty, he's trying to piece together a new life. Until the tragic death of someone Dom loves brings him back to Los Angeles. Here his fued with Agent Brian O’Conner will be reignited. They are forced to confront a shared enemy, a sociopathic kingpin who's flooding the U.S. with drugs. Now the two men must build a new trust if they hope to outsmart him and avenge the tragedy that he has caused their small de facto family to endure. Infiltrating the underground network means earning a spot on a heist squad that moves heroin across the border from Mexico. Two drug cartel lieutenants (Campos and Fenix) can provide the answers Dom and Brian need. Once they have those answers it will be payback time: if they survive.

The Verdict

"I remember attending the special screening for "The Fast & The Furious: Tokyo Drift" and that moment at the end when Vin Diesel appeared as the mystery driver of one of the two cars about to drift race. There was an audible gasp from the audience which was then followed by applause and cheering. I guess it proves a point, and here it is. How many times have you heard it said: 'When it comes to the best, never accept cheap substitutes. Demand original parts only.' After seeing "Fast & Furious 4" you'll understand why. "Fast & Furious 4" features solid performances from the original cast: Diesel, Walker, Brewster and Rodriguez. Those who are fans of the franchise will not be disappointed. Those who are looking for a heart-thumping adrenalin rush, a no-brainer that is action packed right from the start (as per the trailer) will find it very entertaining. And, even though there hasn't been any official statement from the film-makers, the closing scene leave the franchise open to a fifth instalment. The fate of the 'Fast & Furious' franchise will be decided at the boxoffice, which at the time of review had already reached $US219,198,132 world-wide. This is one tyre-smoking, nitro-guzzling, heck of a ride. Buckle up and hang on for dear life. It's the best in the franchise so far! 4 1/2 STARS." Who Plays Who?

Vin Diesel
Paul Walker
Jordana Brewster
Michelle Rodriguez
John Ortiz
Laz Alonso
Gal Gadot
Jack Conley
Shea Whigham
Liza Lapira
Sung Kang
Mirtha Michelle
Greg Cipes
Tego Calderon
Ron Yuan
Alejandro Patino
Joe Hursley
Cesar Garcia
Neil Brown Jr
Wilmer Calderon
McCaleb Burnett
Greg Collins

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Dominic Toretto
Brian O'Conner
Mia Toretto
Letty
Campos
Fenix Rise
Gisele Harabo
Penning
Agent Ben Stasiak
Agent Sophie Trinh
Han Lue
Cara
Dwight
Tego
David Park
Gas Truck Driver
Virgil
Juvenal
Malik
Tash
Federal Investigator
Lead Investigator

The Production Team

Director
Written by
Characters by
Producers
Original Music
D.O.P.
Film Editors
Casting
Production Designer
Set Decoration
Costume Designer

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Justin Lin
Chris Morgan
Gary Scott Thompson
Vin Diesel/Michael Fottrell/Neal H Moritz
Brian Tyler
Amir Mokri
Fred Raskin & Christian Wagner
Sarah Finn & Randi Hiller
Ida Random
A Mowat
Sanja Milkovic Hays