by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
Do people deserve second chances? A fighter can go for another chance at success in the ring. A father can get a second chance at being there for his daughter. A friend can make the right decision and turn away the wrong crowd. A lot of strength is needed to push through and change one’s life. That is the story behind Bjorn Franklin and Johnny Marchetta’s crime drama, Salvable.
Franklin’s screenplay certainly leans on a lot of familiar ideas, threads, and narrative beats. You can see these types of stories in plenty of films, but Salvable unfortunately is a similar exploration to what Darren Aronofsky navigated with The Wrestler. Salvable is a bitt too derivative and predictable.
Yet there are added narrative layers which explore some more crime thriller elements. Shia LaBeouf’s Vince is a terrible influence on our protagonist Sal (Toby Kebbell), and unfortunately the audience must sit back and see Sal make bad decision after bad decision. Vince represents the mercurial friend who is there to get the protagonist in trouble, which is certainly not a fresh character type (looking at you, Jeremy Renner in The Town). Salvable takes some chances in the third act and delivers some impactful moments. Thematically, Franklin takes a bit of a more sobering approach to this redemption narrative, as not everything works out.
This is a stark and gritty film that benefits greatly from the tone that Franklin and Marchetta craft. Since it’s is not an uplifting comeback story like Rocky, there’s a grayer feeling that fits the more dour perspective. The filmmaking is dynamic and visceral during both the boxing scenes, as well as in heist elements introduced later in the film. A particular bareknuckle fight is draped in suspense. This film is pregnant with emotion, tension, and an unnerving atmosphere that will keep you on edge right up to the poignant crescendo.
As for the cast, Kebbell continues to show that he is a top-notch talent, despite flying under the radar in so many projects. Salvable allows him to flex his range, as well as the physicality of being a boxer. Kebbell keeps the audience hooked up until his final moments are captured with some intimate filmmaking choices.
But it is not just Kebbell who stands out. While LaBeouf doesn’t quite have the same level of material compared to many of his other roles, he still channels an unpredictable presence. He is a horrible role model, and is only trouble for Sal, bringing him into a world of crime that he tried to put escape forever. LaBeouf has a strange presence and look here.
James Cosmo is also perfect for his role, as he is a veteran presence in the film, as well as the mentor to Sal. A pleasant surprise is Kíla Lord Cassidy, who portrays Sal’s daughter. They have great, authentic chemistry and tension.
But unfortunately, Salvable is not quite a strong and memorable addition to the classic redemption story. It is a competently made and moving film, despite being overly familiar and tired in some ways. The cast goes a long way in elevating the film. As a whole, it knows when to not pull punches in its presentation. There is enough here to make Salvable a rock-solid genre flick with some sobering thoughts on redemption.
Rating: It Was Just Okay
Salvable is currently playing in theaters
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