Shadowboxer (2005)

When an assassin is diagnosed with terminal cancer, she decides to carry out one final killing, assisted by her lover and stepson, Mikey.

Director:

Lee Daniels

Writer:

Will Rokos

Stars:

Cuba Gooding Jr., Helen Mirren, Vanessa Ferlito

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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 Clancy	...	Anthony - age 7
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)

Storyline

Mikey (Cuba Gooding, Jr.) and Rose (Dame Helen Mirren) are professional assassins. They are also lovers, and once upon a time, Rose also knew Mikey's father. During an elaborate hit job for a malicious gangster, Rose fails to kill the main target, the gangster's pregnant girlfriend. Instead, she delivers her baby and convinces Mikey to help her protect them both. As Rose weakens from cancer, Mikey becomes breadwinner for this unusual family. But tranquility will not last.

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Plot Keywords:

male pubic hair | male full frontal nudity | penis | hairy chest | bare chested male | 

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Taglines:

Feeling Protected Is Very Seductive

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Did You Know?

Trivia

Anjelica Huston was considered for the role of Rose.

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Goofs

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.

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Quotes

Dr. Don: Always an adventure with Rose.

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Connections

Referenced in Britain's Got More Talent: Episode #12.11 (2018)

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Soundtracks

La Wally: Ebben? Ne Andro' Lontana
Written by Alfredo Catalani

User Reviews

Mr. Black's Grade: B

Shadowboxer Mr. Black's Grade: B Starring Cuba Gooding Jr. and Helen Mirren.

First-time director Lee Daniels, producer of two challenging projects, Monster's Ball and The Woodsman tries his hand behind the lens. Mirren plays a female assassin who is diagnosed with cancer, and decides to carry out a final killing assisted by Gooding.

Shadowboxer certainly is a dark film - think Prizzi's Honor but with a very different tone - but Helen Mirren handles this 'unique' relationship with tenderness and dignity. I thought the ending wasn't terribly suspenseful, and it should have been. I kept trying picture how a different, and more experienced director would handle it. A number of crew members were there for the Q/A, including the director. Heck, even a PA came in from Philly (you keener!) Wes Bentley was scheduled to co-star but dropped out.

His role was filled by Cuba Gooding Jr., who succeeded in erasing Snow Dogs from my memory. He is very good here, playing it straight and very cold. In the Q/A afterwards he talked about the differences between doing comedy and drama. He said that he is pursuing roles that allow humor to come from the actions of the character - like in this film - and not obvious comedy. He enjoyed the laughter that his character got from the crowd at the screening, when his character was reacting to situations within the plot and not 'trying' to be funny.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 July 2006 (Italy)

Also Known As:

Shadowboxer

Filming Locations:

Collegeville, Pennsylvania, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$103,238, 23 July 2006

Gross USA:

$370,627

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$519,802

Company Credits

Production Co:

Teton Films, Lee Daniels Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1