Shadowboxer

I really enjoyed this movie!!! The cinematography is magnanimous!!! So vivid and visceral. Most won't notice the most obvious thing about the lead character Cuba Gooding Jr. plays. His character is asexual. He looks at almost everything as a "get the job done" situation. He has no real heart for anything except for his discovered joy in fatherhood. Helen Mirren understood his character. She was like a handler and understands that he'd have a bleak joyless existence when she passes because all he would do is "work" and continue in his isolation. But when a chance encounter occurs Helen Mirren jumps at the prospect of having someone else come into the picture to keep this man from going through life alone. This is like an all star cast- I love each one of the actors. Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Mo'Nique, Stephen Dorff- always love him as the bad guy. I've watched this movie 100+ times and everytime I get choked up when Cuba's character breaks down after a "job" and says that he wants to stay. And I'm immediately angry that she starts initiating sex with him. You can see him shift from vulnerability to "fine, let's get the job done". You can tell he's not angry it's just something that has to be done like a chore. Please watch this movie because it really is a great film.