Jharrel Jerome and Jennifer Lopez star in the film that tells the true and emotional story of wrestling champion Anthony Robles. On Prime Video from January 16, 2025.
Some stories deserve to be told and the true and emotional story of Anthony Robles, who defied all expectations to become a national wrestling champion, is one of them. William Goldenberg, who already won an Oscar as editor for Argo and has previously been nominated for The Imitation Game, Zero Dark Thirty, Seabiscuit, and The Insider, did it in his directorial debut entitled Unstoppable, available on Prime Video from January 16, 2025.
Unstoppable tells the true story of wrestling champion Anthony Robles
Based on the book of the same name co-written by Austin Murphy and Robles himself, the film produced by Ben Affleck among others was able to count on a stellar cast that includes Jharrel Jerome, Bobby Cannavale, Michael Peña, Don Cheadle and Jennifer Lopez. And this is precisely what makes the difference, with the actors involved who play the main characters in an intense and involved way, starting with the talented Jerome who wore the not-at-all-simple ones of the protagonist.
The film reconstructs his sporting and personal events in a biography that traces the first chapters of the existence of a child who then became an adult born with one leg, whose indomitable spirit and unwavering determination led him to challenge difficulties and pursue his dreams. With the love and support of his mother Judy, and the encouragement of his coaches, Anthony will face adversity to earn a place on the Arizona State Wrestling team and become an NCAA champion.
The New York actor, who rose to prominence thanks to the sixteen-year-old Kevin in Moonlight, trained for months and worked closely with the real Robles to acquire the physicality and determination necessary for the role. The closeness that, together with the undoubted skill demonstrated in subsequent works (above all that of Korey Wise in the miniseries When They See Us and Osvaldo Cruz in Monster) and the fact that he had already frequented the world of freestyle wrestling in First Match, allowed him to express himself at his best and to offer the audience a credible performance from the first to the last frame. A series of very respectable shoulders helps him, with a Lopez who, as far as we are concerned, gives herself and the audience the most balanced and emotionally engaging performance of her career.
Unstoppable uses the themes and stylistic elements of the biopic and the sports drama, mixing them seamlessly
Unstoppable uses the themes and stylistic elements of the biopic and the sports drama, mixing them seamlessly. These by nature and characteristics guarantee the project in question an emotional and empathetic base from which to start, but it is then up to the writing and the framing to reap the benefits. The screenwriters and director know this and operate accordingly, focusing on the most engaging aspects of Robles' story, on the sporting feat and overlooking others.
In the two hours available, juggling between family vicissitudes (economic difficulties and domestic violence) and an uphill competitive path, the film touches all possible chords to make the enjoyment an up and down in which one can be moved when entering the private sphere and thrilled while watching the exploits on the mat. Free wrestling, like all combat sports, is a perfect vector. Just think back to Foxcatcher or Crazy for You, passing through Winning Moves. Goldenberg for his part puts in his craft and rides everything there is to ride.
Unstoppable: evaluation and conclusion
Starting from the true story of Anthony Robles and the pages of a biographical novel, the debutant William Goldenberg creates a film that effectively mixes two basic exciting and engaging strands such as the biopic and the sports drama. The competitive exploits of a disabled fighter and the family vicissitudes allow the writing to touch on different themes and emotions, moving and exciting the viewer in turn over the two hours available. The direction and the performances of the actors, where that of the talented Jharrel Jerome stands out, have no choice but to ride the wave.
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