Journeyman (2017)

Boxer Matty Burton suffers a serious head injury during a fight. This is the story about the impact on his marriage, his life, and his family.

Director:

Paddy Considine

Writer:

Paddy Considine

Stars:

Paddy Considine, Jodie Whittaker, Paul Popplewell

7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Paddy Considine	...	Matty Burton
Jodie Whittaker	...	Emma Burton
Paul Popplewell	...	Jackie
Brendan Ingle	...	Robin Burton
Tony Pitts	...	Richie
Matt Insley	...	Matt not Matty
Lexie Duffy	...	Mia (as Lexi Duffy)
Lainie Duffy	...	Mia
Anthony Welsh	...	Andre Bryte
Francis Warren	...	Boxing Promoter
Junior Witter	...	Andre's Trainer
Simon Burgan	...	Andre's Cornerman
Greg Marriott	...	Andre's Nutritionist
Gareth Davies	...	Journalist 1
Matt Christie	...	Journalist 2

Storyline

Matty Burton is the middleweight boxing champion of the world. Now, coming towards the end of his career, he knows that he must make his money and get out of the game. His aim is to secure a home with his wife Emma, and a future for their baby daughter Mia. After a titanic battle against Andre 'The Future' Bryte, Matty returns home to Emma, but moments later collapses on the living room floor from a delayed reaction to a devastating punch. When Matty awakes from the coma, the real fight begins. Suffering from memory loss and with his personality altered, Matty must begin to piece his life back together as his world disintegrates.

---

Taglines:

A snapshot into the life of a struggling boxer

---

Genres:

Drama | Sport

---

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 March 2018 (UK)

Also Known As:

Gyvenimo kova

Filming Locations:

Sheffield United Football Club, Bramall Lane, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Film4, Inflammable Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

The third film by Paddy Considine to star Paul Popplewell. He previously starred in the short film 'Dog Altogether' (2007) and the feature film 'Tyrannosaur' (2011).

---

Quotes

Matty Burton: Number one.

---

Connections

Features The Jeremy Kyle Show (2005)

---

Soundtracks

Into My Arms
Performed by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Written by Nick Cave
Published by Mute Song Limited
Courtesy of Mute Records/BMG Rights Management
Used with permission. All rights reserved.

User Reviews

Emotional KO

Paddy Considine did it again after the great directorial debut with Tyrannosaur. Without a doubt he is one of the best actors among directors and one of the best directors among actors. The complexity of the character he is interpreting is nothing short of amazing, Jodie Whittaker being great as well in portraying a various range of emotions. I'm amazed of the lack of popularity it has now, but I hope time will fix this as it's easily one of the best movies of 2018. Of course, one has to reach a certain emotional maturity in order to fully appreciate a masterpiece like Journeyman.

Is this a "traditional boxing" movie? NO! Boxing here serves only as a mere context for a heartbreaking story about love, forgiveness, despair, respect, will and hope. A film about taking the most important things in life for granted: health, family and unconditional love.

Is this a pleasant movie to watch? NO! But like all great movies, the payoff is worth going through this emotional rollercoaster. And the ending, although having a certain positive vibe and could be described as a "happy" ending, is being delivered without the elements that would have made it cliché like ending.

Paddy Considine offers a "free" master class in writing, directing and acting so I highly recommend it to anti mainstream film lovers!

PS: Jawbone (2017) is another good UK made, boxing themed independent film boxing fans should check out.