William Golden is an Academy Award-winning editor making his directorial debut in the Amazon Studios film Unstoppable. The film follows the story of Anthony Robles, who defied expectations of having one leg to become a National Champion wrestler. Emmy winner Jharrel Jerome plays Anthony Robles, and Jennifer Lopez plays Robles’s mother, Judy. Unstoppable played at the 2024 AFI Film Festival.
Unstoppable Review
Anthony Robles didn’t let the fact that he was born without a leg deter him from his goal of one day attending the prestigious wrestling college Iowa. However, between the disability and troubled home life, Iowa and most schools don’t want to invest in Robles, no matter how good he is. Robles decides to attempt to become a walk-on at Arizona State instead of taking a full ride at Drexel to help support his mother and family.
Most sports biopics have the same formulaic beats. You set up the obstacle facing our protagonist, watching him battle through it, leading to a monumental ending of overcoming it all. Unstoppable doesn’t veer off that beat and path at all.
Jharrel Jerome had big shoes to fill in his journey of portraying Anthony Robles. Not only did he have to portray a real person, but he also had to learn how to adapt to his disability while learning how to become a wrestler. Without Jerome’s committed performance, Unstoppable would’ve fallen flat. Jerome’s training involved working with Robles on and off the mat. Fun tidbit: Robles played Jerome’s stunt double for the movie.
In his first lead performance of his career, Jharrel Jerome carries Unstoppable to relevancy. I was impressed with his ability to carry the emotional weight of Robles’s story with such conviction. Every sports movie has a training montage that showcases the athlete’s will and desire. Jerome has his Stallone-like Rocky moment as he climbs a mountain on crutches. This was one of many moments where Jerome showcased incredible acting chops.
The film boasts a strong ensemble. Coaches Bobby Williams and Shawn Charles played pivotal roles in Anthony Robles’s career trajectory. Veteran actors Michael Pena and Don Cheadle both do their part in elevating the story in those roles. The other shining star in the film is Jennifer Lopez as Robles mother Judy. Although I have issues with how much the writers chose to focus on this story, Lopez does a great job with her screen time in providing an emotional punch.
The problem with Unstoppable lies in the attempt to take the camera off of star Jharrel Jerome. I don’t doubt that Robles’ mother, Judy, played a pivotal role in his life, but exploring the off-the-mat stuff with her character consistently took the momentum out of the movie. You have to lay the groundwork for understanding the at-home struggles, but they are intertwined far too much. Just like a sports game, you have to build on the momentum, but once you lose it, it’s hard to get it back.
William Goldenberg does a heck of a job with the camera work during the wrestling matches. His build to the National Championship match was nothing short of spectacular. However, Goldenberg, an Academy Award-winning editor, should understand that overstaying your welcome will exhaust audiences. With the run time nearing two hours, Goldenberg takes us to the mat and wears us down.
Is Unstoppable worth watching?
The film is filled with inspiration, hope, and even the urge to get off your couch and chase a dream. However, Jharrel Jerome’s fantastic performance can save Unstoppable from falling into the trap of being like many sports biopics before it. The studio that brought us the magic of the relationship between Michael Jordan and Nike with Air failed to ignite that same kind of passion. That said, I think the film is worth checking out when it releases on Prime Video based on understanding the story of Anthony Robles and appreciating collegiate wrestling.
Unstoppable screened at the 2024 edition of AFI Fest, which runs October 23-27 in Los Angeles, CA. It hits theaters on December 6.
Unstoppable AFI Fest Review — Jharrel Jerome Shines in This Ordinary Sports Biopic
Unstoppable is a paint-by-numbers sports biopic that is elevated by Jharrel Jerome’s fantastic portrait of Anthony Robles.
