Salvable

Its not a pretty movie. Its captured someplace in Ireland. Gray, cold, damp, desolate, solemn looking place. You hardly see anyone around, which I thought was odd. Gave me that Twilight Zone feel.

The acting is done well. Story is drama filled, with life and its consequences of bad and right decisions. You become the subject looking out to the world in his eyes. He's tenacious, patient and willing to do right thing. But those past habits always seem to be, not so far away. Boxing is thing out there. I figured it was predominately pubs and factories. Which adds historical interest. Its slow paced, but situations keep the interest moving. I would say the movie will be better received from matured audience. People that have lived and encountered similar situations.

Why the pundits gave it 4 stars is beyond me. I would crack it around 7.

Just to be clear, this is not a boxing movie. It's very much deep in the drama category...and thats a good thing. I did not expect to be so emotionally broken after watching this. As a father myself, i couldn't help but think about my own children.

A stand out movie, one which will stay with me for a while think. The lead actor Sal played by Toby Kebell is outstanding, it almost feels like a real lived in documentary, you are with him every step of this film and you feel his woes even in the quietest moments of the film.

A must watch... but don't expect this to be an action flick, its a slow burn, beautifully crafted and emotionally driven drama. Just flawed me.

In moody blue-collar Brit drama "Salvable" Toby Kebbell (terrific under-rated actor) struggles in his small depressed town to balance his care assistant job, fading nonentitive boxing career (under coach James Cosmo), and relationship with ex-wife Elaine Cassidy & their teen Kíla Lord Cassidy (Elaine's actual daughter)... then old small-time crim pal Shia LaBeouf (with weird accent & goons inc Michael Socha) offers an alternative path. For their debut, co-directors Bjorn Franklin (with his debut screenplay) & Johnny Marchetta forgo 'feel-good' for authentic gloom, but too much so. For similar themes with superior balance opt instead for "Calm With Horses".

Salvable offers striking visuals and well-choreographed boxing scenes - gritty, kinetic, and grounded - but the storytelling never quite packs a punch. The film centers on Sal, a washed-up boxer battling regret, family estrangement, and the lure of a dangerous comeback. While cinematography beautifully captures the blue-collar grit of Wales and the ring sequences feel authentic, the screenplay remains surface level. His relationships with his daughter and ex-wife feel underdeveloped, pacing suffers in the middle, and the emotional stakes don't fully land. Shia LaBeouf brings some energy as Vince, but mostly just steers Sal toward a predictable end. Salvable looks tough, but it never truly hits below the surface.

Salvable knocks you out like a good boxer would. Obviously, this isn't a movie about boxing. Our main character does fight people in the ring, but more than that, he fights life and his circumstances. This film powerfully conveys a mood-one of sadness, of tough odds, of hopelessness. And you'll feel all of that: through the music, the gritty, rundown locations, the grimy, raw coastal weather-and most of all through the characters, especially in a layered lead performance by Toby Kebbell.

Sal is the underdog in the story-and this movie, too, started out as an underdog, but turned into a great watch.