Shadowboxer (2005)

Director:

Lee Daniels

Writer (WGA):

William Lipz (written by)

Release Date:

14 July 2006 (Italy)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Feeling Protected Is Very Seductive

Plot:

When Rose, a female assassin, is diagnosed with terminal cancer, she decides to carry out one final killing, assisted by lover and also stepson, Mikey.

Plot Keywords:

Cancer | Gangster | Baby | Female Assassin | Crisis Of Conscience

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Cuba Gooding Jr.	...	Mikey
Helen Mirren	...	Rose
Vanessa Ferlito	...	Vicki
Macy Gray	...	Neisha
Joseph Gordon-Levitt	...	Dr. Don
Mo'Nique	...	Precious
Stephen Dorff	...	Clayton Mayfield
Matt Higgins	...	Eddie
Tom Pasch	...	Andrew
Ryan Eric Speise	...	Anthony - Age 3
Cullen Flynn Clancy	...	Anthony - age 7 (as Cullen Clancy)
Marilyn Yoblick	...	Real Estate Agent
Darnell Williams	...	Mikey's Father
Marvina Vinique	...	Mikey's Mother (as Marvina Vinque)
John Panzarella	...	Man in Hotel (as Johnny Panzarella)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong graphic violence and sexuality, nudity, language and some drug use.

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Brazil:18 | USA:R | UK:18 | Argentina:18 | Finland:K-15 | Australia:MA | New Zealand:R18 | Italy:VM14 | Netherlands:16 | Germany:16 | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

Collegeville, Pennsylvania, USA

Company:

Teton Films

Trivia:

Ryan Phillippe was originally cast in the role of Mickey, but had to drop out due to a scheduling conflict.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Dr. Don examines the bodyguard, the bullet hole is straight down through his foot. However, that would be impossible from the distance Clayton shot him.

Quotes:

Rose: [to Vicki] Feeling protected is very seductive.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Indie Sex: Censored (2007) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Pardon My Freedom

Breaking All the Rules

Breaking conventional rules, Shadowboxer is dark, sexy, and very violent. On many levels the movie is uncomfortable to watch. All of the characters are flawed and the brazen sexuality and raw emotional performances, by a superb cast, is hard to watch at times. This is no popcorn movie but a thesis on age, sex, family, and violence. The direction was a little heavy handed, and in some scenes, it overshadowed the actors. Expect to see more in the future from Mo'nique in her break out role; and Macy Gray, as usual, was entertaining to watch. Cuba Gooding Jr, looking not much older than he was in the "Show me the money" days in his Oscar winning performance in Jerry Maguire, is superb. In fact, I think that his is an important role in the history of film. A black man as an object of sexual desire by an older white woman certainly breaks the norms. Their intimate relationship will test your own beliefs on age and race. But by the time you figure out where you stand, another scene will give you reason to pause and think. And I guess that's what I like most about the film--being forced to confront issues I rarely think about and being entertained at the same time.