Unstoppable Review: An Incredible story of the defiant human Spirit
Unstoppable shows how an impossible dream can become reality through grit, persevearance and defiance on Prime Video this January
Watching films like Unstoppable sometimes makes me feel uncomfortable. Not because its central character has a disability but because despite the disabilities, they manage to do the impossible. Their level of achievement and ability to overcome the most difficult circumstances always makes me feel like I’m massively underachieving in my life.
Unstoppable is directed by William Goldenberg and tells the incredible inspiring real-life story of Anthony Robles (Jharrel Jerome) born with one leg but a phenomenal drive, unbreakable spirit and the Will to defy the odds life has given him.
He dreams of becoming a champion wrestler by attending ICU, a college known for producing champions and hopes his local notoriety and winning streak will catch the eye of their scout.
We quickly find out that despite having a good handle on his disability, the rest of his life is even more difficult. He lives in a small house with 4 siblings, his single mother played by Jennifer Lopez and an abusive stepfather (Bobby Cannavale). He works a part time job, helps look after his siblings and trains at every given opportunity to improve his strength and wrestling ability.
Unbreakable isn’t glamorous or particularly complicated. Even the wrestling matches which are supposed to be the central showcase of the film aren’t particularly flashy. So if you go in expecting the type of over-the-top wrestling antics you’ll find in the WWE, then you might be a bit disappointed. This is ‘real’ wrestling with down-on-the-ground grabs, locks, holds and throws.
What the film does have is an incredibly inspirational story of the human ability to overcome and rise above. Despite the challenges he faces, the abuse and every perceived disadvantage, he manages to succeed and exceed. It truly is remarkable to watch and experience this story. At points I found myself wondering if it had been exaggerated by Hollywood for dramatic effect but that really wasn’t relevant because either way, this was still a story that occurred and people around still living to collaborate the events. The end credits contain the clips of the real Anthony Robles and his mother alongside their achievements since this particularly impactful period of their lives.
The soundtrack was hit-and-miss in my opinion, slightly lacking in cohesion. The cinematography was excellent, whether it was wide shots of landscapes, the city at night or close up wrestling action. Everything felt alive while still maintaining the very grounded earthy feel of the film.
The performances were solid across the board, including Micheal Pena as his high school coach and Don Cheadle as his college coach. Even the much-maligned Jennifer Lopez managed to put in a decent performance as the tough mother who believes in her son but is also the victim of domestic abuse. The stand-out performance belongs to the lead Jharrel Jerome.
I first saw Jharrel in a great supporting role in the Netflix ministry series ‘How They See Us’ and knew it was only a matter of time before he was leading his own project. His embodiment of Anthony Robles, both his emotional turmoil and his physical characteristics and mannerisms, as well as his grit, determination, and unbreakable spirit, is second to none.
Unstoppable is a movie that sets out to not only shine a light on a very special individual but also make the audience think twice about their own perceived misconceptions when they next see a disabled person. One aspect I wasn’t expecting was the domestic abuse. It was presented in a way that showed why abuse can be just as bad as violence, especially the lasting effect it can have on the children exposed to it
This is a powerful story that needed to be shared with the world, and I’m glad I’ve had the opportunity to experience it.
Unstoppable is released globally on Prime Video from 16 January 2025.
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