by Charles Kirkland, Jr.
Jharrel Jerome gives another outstanding performance amid a star-studded cast (including Don Cheadle
and Jennifer Lopez) in this heartfelt sports drama about a college wrestler who dreams of going pro,
Unstoppable.
Anthony Robles has a dream. He has set his sights on attending the University of Iowa because all the great champion wrestlers come from that program. As the national high school champion in wrestling, he feels that he should be drafted by Iowa. Sadly, he is passed over by every school in the nation except Drexel in Philadelphia offers him a full scholarship to their school. There is only one explanation for being overlooked, despite being an undefeated champion, Anthony Robles was born with only one leg.
After some hard contemplations and even harder circumstances in his volatile home, Anthony chooses to reject the Drexel offer and be a walk-on at Arizona State University near his home. Can Anthony defy all the odds and prove that he is Unstoppable?
Unstoppable stars Jharrel Jerome (Moonlight, When They See Us) as Robles with Jennifer Lopez, Don Cheadle, Michael Peña, and Bobby Cannavale. The film is written by John Hindman, Eric Champnella, and Alex Harris and is based on the true story of Anthony Robles. The film is directed by William Goldenberg who was the editor for Air, Zero Dark Thirty, Miami Vice, and Argo. The film is also the follow-up to the sports drama Air, from Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s Artists Equity company.
Jharrel Jerome submits another outstanding performance here. Along with his work in the When They See Us and Moonlight, Jerome is producing high-quality filmography. Outside the film, Jerome puts in a huge amount of weight training to look like a wrestler. Inside the film, Jerome is emotionally and physically intense in every scene he plays whether he is the focused wrestler, the loving son/brother, or anything in between. In the wrestling circle and the locker room, he convinces two tough coaches and the rest of us that his grit and potential are real. At home, he contends with a mother going through some growing up of her own. Jerome is the light and heart of the film.
Without darkness though, how can the light be appreciated? Bobby Cannavale plays Robles’ stepfather with such an intensely dark and mean nature that has to be noticed. He embodies the insidious nature of domestic violence so well that the audience looks forward to his ultimately necessary stand-off with Robles.
Sure, the story is very, very formulaic. The story of the underdog overcoming was a theme of several movies at TIFF this year. But the reason why there are so many of these stories is the fact that they are so often successful. When done correctly, as it is in this film, these stories are magical and inspirational, especially when they are based upon a true story.
Unstoppable is both an irresistible sports drama and a family story full of heart. It allows us to see that
every obstacle can be overcome through focus, attention, and hard work. Since the events in the film,
Robles has become a national inspiration. Surely the documentation of Robles’ real-life success is enough to make this film special, but the performances of Jerome, Cannavale, and Jennifer Lopez, secured the win.
Grade: B+