Review of Shadowboxer (2005) by Kelsey A — 10 Apr 2012

(Contains spoilers).

Unusual thriller that deals with the aftermath of a decision made by terminally ill assassin Helen Mirren and her partner/lover Cuba Gooding Jr. to spare the life of target Vanessa Ferlito and her newborn son. Mobster husband Stephen Dorff ordered the deaths but instead the pair are whisked away into hiding where we spend the next several years. It's a surprisingly engaging story with interesting characters but the odd vibe brought about by the bizarre relationships and director Lee Daniels' penchant for cranking up the arthouse dial leaves a sour taste in the mouth. What, you didn't think there existed a film where a cancer-stricken Helen Mirren has sex with Cuba Gooding Jr. in a forest during which he blows her brains out with a handgun? Oh you poor, sad, deluded fool! OK, so the casting may be weird but the performances themselves are solid, especially Cuba Gooding Jr., who reminds us of just how good he can be.