Centers around the life of wrestler Anthony Robles, who was born with one leg and won a national championship in 2011 while competing at Arizona State University.
Chuck says:
On the surface, William Goldenberg’s “Unstoppable” appears to be just another inspirational sports movie. It focuses on a young man from a modest background who has the odds stacked against him, both in life and the arena he has chosen to compete in. And while some successes occur, the setbacks he faces are more numerous. Only his fervent belief in himself keeps him going, ultimately leading to success.
Familiar to a fault, what elevates the film is its subject, Anthony Robles, a young man born with only one leg, who succeeded in becoming a world class wrestler.
Goldenberg wisely takes a low-key approach in recounting Robles’ remarkable story, knowing full well the facts of his life need no manipulation to inspire. Equally vital to the film’s success is Jharrel Jerome. The young actor’s earnest nature and subtle approach in taking on the lead role, succeeds in garnering our sympathize without ever pandering.
Based on Robles’ autobiography, the film begins during his senior year in high school, the young man having established himself as a wrestler to be reckoned with. However, when he doesn’t get a scholarship from Arizona State University – the leading wrestling school in the nation – he sets out to get the attention of the head of that program, Coach Sean Charles (Don Cheadle). Rejecting a full-ride scholarship to Drexel University, he enrolls at ASU and tries out for the team as a walk-on.
Robles’ homelife is not without its challenges as well. His father out of the picture, his mother, Judy (Jennifer Lopez) has married Rick (Bobby Cannavale), a childish, petty man who never passes up an opportunity to put Robles down. A failure as a stepfather and husband, he’s also lost his job, putting the family in jeopardy, their home about to be foreclosed on.
Goldenberg deftly balances the two storylines over the four years Robles spends at ASU. Inspirational moments are plentiful in each but never overplayed. A sequence showing Robles’ trying out for the team, doing all his two-legged rivals do while on crutches, including carrying weights while running around a track or climbing a rocky outcrop, will move the most hard-hearted viewer. All the while, Cheadle underplays his growing respect for the determined young man to great effect, gradually warming to him as he becomes a dominant force in the program.
Equally arduous and ultimately satisfying is Judy’s story. Going from being a doormat for her husband to a determined advocate for her family, she’s able to save her family, bolstered by her son’s support. Rather than calling attention to herself, as oft the case, Lopez puts herself in the service of a well-written part, bringing a conviction to it that does Judy’s efforts justice.
With solid support from Michael Pena as Robles’ coach and Mykelti Williamson as the wrestler’s supportive co-worker, the film never lags over its two-hour running time. The wrestling sequences are believably rendered, Goldenberg putting the viewer on the mat with the combatants, not holding back showing the violent nature of the sport. In doing so we come to further understand the strength and agility needed to succeed. As a result, we come to appreciate even more how remarkable Robles’ achievements are.
Ironically, “Unstoppable” most effective moment occurs away from the mats. A scene in which Judy shares letters written by school children with Robles proves genuinely moving. Containing innocent, genuine declarations of praise, more than a few referring to him as a “hero.” Though he modestly brushes aside these words of praise, we’re reminded that sometimes our actions and the example we set reach beyond ourselves, their power greater than we realize. In this moment, “Unstoppable” justifies its existence. While genuine inspiration and true courage may be in short supply, films such as this remind us of their necessity and power.
3 1/2 Stars
Pam says:
Excelling at anything, let alone a sport, is only a dream for most of us, but Anthony Robles (Jharrell Jerome) shows us that anything is possible in “Unstoppable” as he overcomes obstacles most of us would never attempt to hurdle. Robles, with one leg due to a congenital anomaly, wrestled to win a national championship in 2011 and this is his story; a story of hope, resiliency, and determination.
Robles had a tough upbringing, to say the least. Growing up with a single mom who remarried an abusive man, Rick (Bobby Canavale), who degraded Anthony at every and any turn, found the sport of wrestling to be his saving grace thanks to Coach Bobby Williams (Michael Pena). We feel the tension in Anthony’s home, his mother Judy (Jennifer Lopez) cowering from Rick’s verbal abuse toward her son, her other children, and herself. Anthony finds a way to escape, but escaping the situation would be abandoning his mother, a move he would never make. And this is where Coach Williams hands over the reins to a begrudging Arizona State University wrestling coach, Shawn Charles (Don Cheadle) who treats Anthony as an equal to every other walk-on hopeful at the school.
If this sounds similar to a recently released film called “The Fire Inside,” you’d be absolutely correct. Once again, we have a determined young person in a situation where the odds are more than against them, they are stacked so high that they seem insurmountable. And again, we have a coach who, through the graciousness of his heart, finds a way to give a youngster hope and resiliency. And that, my friend, is a lesson we just can’t get enough of.
While this might be a familiar story, you have to have a cast that makes this work. Creating a believable character means that we believe this actor, Jerome, has one leg. Creative filming, editing and his double, the real-life Anthony Robles, taking Jerome’s place when needed, gives this film the authenticity it requires. Jerome’s performance is inspirational and as we see the importance of people like his coaches, we are equally inspired to make a positive difference in this world.
With Lopez as Judy, Anthony’s mom, we see a more understated performance than we might expect. She finds a way to be this broken woman who has a narrative arc of her own, but never does it overshadow Anthony’s story, it augments it beautifully. Cannavale shows us another side of himself and it’s a menacingly dark one. But let’s focus on the heroes of the story and they come in all sizes, shapes, and ages—Anthony’s teammates. The role and importance of a coach is perhaps much greater than we thought.
“Unstoppable” has everything it needs to make this a story work. Love, strength, determination, and integrity are just some of the key factors beautifully demonstrated in this film. There are some tough topics within that might be difficult for youngsters to see, but anyone over the age of 12, especially athletes, could benefit from this story.
3 stars
