83
The Playlist
It’s pretty banal, but in the anything-but-banal catalogue of Cronenberg films, that gives it its own weird, sincere charm.
Fast Company
Critic Rating
(read reviews)User Rating
- Canada
- 1979
- · 91m
Director
David Cronenberg
Cast
William Smith,
Claudia Jennings,
John Saxon,
Nicholas Campbell,
Don Francks,
Cedric Smith
Genre
Drama
An early departure from director David Cronenberg's canon of visceral horror, 1979's Fast Company profiles one of his personal passions, racecars, in a gritty melodrama that also features exciting racetrack footage. Veteran tough guy William Smith is top-billed as a champion drag racer who clashes with the unscrupulous oil-company executive who sponsors his team.
Stream Fast Company
What are critics saying?
83
The Playlist by Staff (Not Credited)
It’s pretty banal, but in the anything-but-banal catalogue of Cronenberg films, that gives it its own weird, sincere charm.
75
The A.V. Club by Noel Murray
Fast Company is an example of Cronenberg taking one step back from his idiosyncrasies, and spending 90 minutes reveling in one of his passions.
70
Chicago Reader by Dave Kehr
What gives it the Cronenberg feel, in spite of the complete absence of his standard themes, is his manner of filming the dragsters: they become, like the horrible growths that usually dominate his movies, the physical projection of the characters' hostile energies, weapons they use to act out the psychological conflicts that torture them off the track.
65
Film Threat
While not a remarkable action/race film, Fast Company does boast some innovative and impressive footage captured from inside a dragster that would not have been the same directed by anyone else.
65
Film Threat by Staff (Not Credited)
While not a remarkable action/race film, Fast Company does boast some innovative and impressive footage captured from inside a dragster that would not have been the same directed by anyone else.
63
Slant Magazine
The only thing Fast Company says about Cronenberg the person and artist is that the dude really, really likes drag racing. Auteurists should probably look elsewhere. Fans of well-crafted B movies, on the other hand, will be right at home.
63
Slant Magazine by Matt Noller
The only thing Fast Company says about Cronenberg the person and artist is that the dude really, really likes drag racing. Auteurists should probably look elsewhere. Fans of well-crafted B movies, on the other hand, will be right at home.
50
The Globe and Mail (Toronto) by Jay Scott
William Smith, who plays Lucky Lonnie, a drag-strip racer in David Cronenberg's Fast Company, is a personification of country singer Waylon Jennings' voice: powerful and rich and funky and gentle. He doesn't hold Fast Company together - a vise the size of Paraguay couldn't hold Fast Company together - but his presence gives the movie an entirely undeserved distinction. [03 Oct 1979]
50
TV Guide Magazine
A formula B movie about race car drivers, it's competent, but unmemorable as anything other than a footnote in Cronenberg's development.
50
TV Guide Magazine by Staff (Not Credited)
A formula B movie about race car drivers, it's competent, but unmemorable as anything other than a footnote in Cronenberg's development.
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