Shadowboxer (2005)

Shadowboxer is an emotionally-charged full-throttle thriller which delves deep into the harsh underworld of organized crime and uncovers the complex lives of trained assassins Mikey (Cuba Gooding Jr.) and Rose (Helen Mirren). But when a brutal crime boss wants his wife dead Rose decides against killing the pregnant woman. Instead the three begin a harrowing life on the run. Driven by fierce love Rose and Mikey protect their adopted family from present danger looking to redeem their tragic past.System Requirements:Run Time: 90 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: SPORTS/GAMES/MIXED MARTIAL ARTS Rating: R UPC: 855280001533 Manufacturer No: CM0153DVD Product Description

It's the controversy that makes it genius

True genius never seems to be realized except in hindsight. My prediction is that this movie will be appreciated more in the future, than it is appreciated now.

It is the twisted, unpredictable storyline, provided by a range of characters who are very nearly under-acted. You must watch it more than once in order to understand the subtle implications throughout. Quite simply, this is an intellectual movie, and would have likely been quite successful with foreign film critics and lovers had it originated in Europe or another location. But since it's Cuba & our familiar faces in this film, we expect it to be the typical American fluff-film that we are used to seeing.

Do yourself a favor, and watch this movie. Then, watch it again, just to be sure you didn't miss anything (because I'm sure you will on the first go). I brought this movie to several friends and had them watch it, because I liked it so much, and many of them (who are all fairly intellectual and appreciative of high-level art), appreciated seeing this film that they had not remembered hearing about. June 14, 2008

This movie will make you knock yourself out!

Okay. Let me try to explain this peculiar movie to you. Cuba Gooding Jr and Helen Mirren play two hired asassins who do a job for their boss. The kill half the people in the house but decide to spare their boss's wife, when they find out she's pregnant. They take her with them in hiding from their boss who is peeved about now. Cuba and Helen Mirren also have sexual fling going on this movie and the twist is that she is his mother! Hellen's character also murdered Cuba's character's abusive father when he was a child! The plot doesnt sound too terrible but the movie is worser than I'm making it sound. The plot while strange is not what hurts this film: its the bad acting from the cast that hurt it the most. Cuba Gooding Jr and Helen Mirren give some horrible performances and even Steven Dorff of "Duece Wild" fame seems out of place in this cinematic disasterpiece. Ho'nique aka Porkeisha Pig plays a crackhead receptionist(I'm sorry, I tried to like this Aunt Jemima but after this film I'm throwing in the towel) who later finds out that her boyfriend who also works in the same clinic she works in is cheating on her with a chick who looks like she could be mistaken for relative of the singer Monica. This movie is so bad at times it's hilarious. Example: Mo'nique catching her man giving funnylinguis to some woman made me laugh till I teared up. In closing I say avoid this film at all costs. The acting was terrible and most of the time the movie makes no sense. Dont borrow it from a friend and if some street peddler gives it to you for free kick his a**! Its THAT bad. February 21, 2008

Worst movie in History

This movie is simply the worst film that ever existed in the face of this planet. By all means, if you are the type of individual that loves killer movies that make absolutely no sense then this for you. On the other, it only requires a fair amount of logic to realize this is THE WORST MOVIE ON THE PLANET. Plot makes no sense, acting is really bad, Cuba just sits there and wait to get his finger cut off so he can fight..... man the nightmares goes on. Stay away from this movie at all cost.... Stay Away! It's really that bad. February 15, 2008

Good Film

This would get 3 and a half stars from if it was possible. This is neither a 5 star or a one star movie. So its not in the same ball-park as The Godfather or Goodfellas but its miles better than a lot of rubbish that comes out of Hollywood today.

The cast are all good. Helen Mirren as Rose and Cuba Gooding Jr as Mickey are two asassins who are paid to kill Vicki, but as she is about to give birth, they don't. In a role that Gary Oldman would have played 10 years ago, Stephen Dorff is the psycho husband/boyfriend who is left wondering what has happened to his child and the mother (who he was paying to have killed).

The film strays into areas that a lot of films won't go near. Mixed race relationships, and older women with a younger black man and the violence and sex is quite explicit. So if you don't like that sort of thing don't buy it or rent it.

In places it is overly stylised, but I cared about what happened to at least some of the characters and therefore overall I would recommend it. Renting first may be adviseable as it will not to everybodies taste. However I will certainly be watching it again and would purchase the film at the right price.
February 4, 2008

Dark & Sensual

Cuba Gooding and co-star Helen Mirren provide acting at its best. When Helen (The Queen) climbed out of her sick bed and spontaneously engaged in a sexy strip club type dance with her son/lover Gooding, I thought I'd seen it all. The entire cast, while quirky, was outrageously good. Comedian, Monique proved that her talent goes beyond being funny. The storyline had me captivated. Some scenes, though many may consider, sordid is captured through the lens of the camera and made to appear, utterly beautiful. Buy this. You won't be disappointed. January 21, 2008

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