It is only fitting as it was my motivation for creating this blog to begin with. The unfairness of how this movie was treated was compelling. It blends together so many unlikely story elements, that at worst, it is intensely interesting.
It is the tale of 2 hired hit people, Cuba Gooding and Helen Mirren (?!) that also happen to be lovers, that also happen to be mother and step-son. They are hired to kill the wife of a nut ball mob boss (Stephen Dorff, who actually does the hiring) and the body guards that are protecting her. While spraying the guards goes smoothly, Helen Mirren, about to kill the wife, discovers that she is in the last stages of pregnancy as her water breaks as she is about to shoot. Helen promptly delivers the baby on the bed, and decides to save them, perhaps trying to atone for the fact that she has made a career of killing and is dying of cancer. Cuba, who also shadowboxes as a hobby, all the while gives his intense silent disapproval during the course of events. All of this by the way, happens in the first 15 minutes of the film and are not spoilers.
What happens next is a journey of major proportions for Cuba, Helen, and the mob wife. I have to say, with as many films as I have seen, some of the imagery is quite fascinating. To see a 38 year old Cuba (who in this movie has a body of total chiseled perfection) naked and having soft core sex in the open woods with a sixtyish Helen Mirren is.....how shall we say......wow.
Sure the story is a bit far fetched (most films these days are), but I think it was this image of the violation of the sacred alter of St. Mirren of England that was this film's undoing, and caused the critics to tear it to shreds. They, should we say, were just not ready. In a world of big screen television remakes and threequels (i.e. Spiderman 3, Shrek 3, and Pirates of the Caribbean 3, all of which I have absolutely no desire to see) it is obvious that Hollywood is completely and utterly creatively bankrupt. If anything, it should welcome a film of formerly unseen imagery and viewer challenges, like water to a thirsty man in the desert. Macy Gray has a role as the wife's best friend, and steals every scene she's in. It is also the first time I have gotten into a performance by Cuba since.....well....ever. It is actually very nuanced, powerful, and affecting. But, dear reader, it is a perfect example of how far we still have to go in Hollywood, and the reason for the existence of this very blog; to point these things out to you.
This film is a first time direction for Lee Daniels, who produced "Monster's Ball" and the seriously criminally overlooked and ignored "The Woodsman". BTW, "The Woodsman" and "Shadowboxer" were also produced by Damon Dash, former cohort of Jay-Z. Who woulda thunk? All due props to Lee Daniels, but honestly, bro, what's up with the hair?
It is the tale of 2 hired hit people, Cuba Gooding and Helen Mirren (?!) that also happen to be lovers, that also happen to be mother and step-son. They are hired to kill the wife of a nut ball mob boss (Stephen Dorff, who actually does the hiring) and the body guards that are protecting her. While spraying the guards goes smoothly, Helen Mirren, about to kill the wife, discovers that she is in the last stages of pregnancy as her water breaks as she is about to shoot. Helen promptly delivers the baby on the bed, and decides to save them, perhaps trying to atone for the fact that she has made a career of killing and is dying of cancer. Cuba, who also shadowboxes as a hobby, all the while gives his intense silent disapproval during the course of events. All of this by the way, happens in the first 15 minutes of the film and are not spoilers.
What happens next is a journey of major proportions for Cuba, Helen, and the mob wife. I have to say, with as many films as I have seen, some of the imagery is quite fascinating. To see a 38 year old Cuba (who in this movie has a body of total chiseled perfection) naked and having soft core sex in the open woods with a sixtyish Helen Mirren is.....how shall we say......wow.
Sure the story is a bit far fetched (most films these days are), but I think it was this image of the violation of the sacred alter of St. Mirren of England that was this film's undoing, and caused the critics to tear it to shreds. They, should we say, were just not ready. In a world of big screen television remakes and threequels (i.e. Spiderman 3, Shrek 3, and Pirates of the Caribbean 3, all of which I have absolutely no desire to see) it is obvious that Hollywood is completely and utterly creatively bankrupt. If anything, it should welcome a film of formerly unseen imagery and viewer challenges, like water to a thirsty man in the desert. Macy Gray has a role as the wife's best friend, and steals every scene she's in. It is also the first time I have gotten into a performance by Cuba since.....well....ever. It is actually very nuanced, powerful, and affecting. But, dear reader, it is a perfect example of how far we still have to go in Hollywood, and the reason for the existence of this very blog; to point these things out to you.
This film is a first time direction for Lee Daniels, who produced "Monster's Ball" and the seriously criminally overlooked and ignored "The Woodsman". BTW, "The Woodsman" and "Shadowboxer" were also produced by Damon Dash, former cohort of Jay-Z. Who woulda thunk? All due props to Lee Daniels, but honestly, bro, what's up with the hair?
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