Once again Lee Daniels, the producer of “Monster’s Ball” and “The Woodsman” has left me speechless. I am not overwhelmed with joy but rather sheer and utter disbelief. How someone can cast respectable and then make a film so weak in its plot and delivery... I’m still puzzled as to way such actors took the role on in the first place. Cuba why?? Mercy Gray heh! MoNique as who? And Joseph please you can’t fool us.
Cuba Gooding Jr character Mikey, comes from a dysfunctional family where his father promoted violence. Mirren’s character Rose, battles with cancer and inspires a new sense of spirituality which provides a platform for the ensuing sequence of events. The pair help to deliver the baby pregnant Vanessa Ferlito whom they were paid to assassinate. By caring for the woman and child, Rose hopes to bring life, love to the one she is slowly losing. From this point on the three have to deal with life, death and spirituality. Slowly we see the development of the characters especially Mikey.
This melodramatic thriller is over saturated with sex, violence and lavish props that one is left in disbelief at its ludicrousness. The plot is first thrown into disarray when the viewer is introduced to Helen Mirren (Rose) and Cuba Gooding Jr (Mikey) as contract killers, star crossed lovers and stepmother and stepson. Yes you did read it right ‘lovers and stepmother and stepson’. Dying of cancer Rose eventually exists with what can I say - a bang.
Rated 18, I knew that there would have some adult material, but there were scenes that I personally felt went beyond bounds of necessity, showing intense sex scenes, and full male frontal nudity.
I personally would not recommend the film simply because the graphic content and weak/fragmented plot overpowered the performances of the reputable actors.
Shadowboxer
Release date: 7th May 2007
Running time: 93 minutes
2005-USA-Crime Drama
Cast: Helen Mirren, Cuba Gooding Jr., Stephen Dorff, Macy Gray, Mo'Nique, Vanessa Ferlito, Joseph Gordon-Levitt
