Review: Shadowboxer (B)

Shadowboxer (2005)
Directed by Lee Daniels
Starring Cuba Gooding Jr, Helen Mirren, Vanessa Ferlito, Stephen Dorff, Macy Gray
MPAA: R
Grade: B

Review by Marc Focus

After watching Shadowboxer, a family member asked me "what was it about"? Frankly, I didn't even know where to start. Shadowboxer is a strange film that heads off into some unusual directions. Maybe that's why I liked it so much.

Rose (played by the brilliant Helen Mirren) is a hired assassin that has come down with cancer. She has six months to live. So she tries to make the most of it, along with Mickey, her stepson (and lover) played by Cuba Gooding Jr. The two have remarkable chemistry and it's great to see two fine actors really get into their roles. Rose and Mickey go on a hit, and during the job, they encounter Vickie, a pregnant woman (the Angelina Jolie-esque Vanessa Ferlito). Due to the shock of the attack, Vickie goes into labor. Rose takes this as a sign and she spares the girl (and baby) from being killed. In fact the pair soon take Vickie and her baby under their wing.

There are tons of twists and turns in Shadowboxer, and the acting is brilliant. There are great performances by the two stars, and Stephen Dorff, Vanessa Ferlito and Stephen Dorff all do fine work as well. Macy Gray is refreshing as Vickie's foul mouthed best friend. The cinematography is stunning. The casting is top notch. However, there is an awful lot of needless nudity and graphic sex. While the sexual adrenaline didn't bother me, I imagine it that it might be a bit too much for some. The film probably would work just as well without it. But, as I said, it didn't really bother this reviewer.

Shadowboxer is a fine little film that comes as a nice surprise. Excellent acting, great cinematography and interesting casting. This one's a winner.