Shadow Glories
Broad thematic strokes and lame pokes at characterization combine to pulverize "Shadow Glories" into another hapless indie with plenty of fight but no audience. Opening today for a limited New England release via Hamzeh Mystique Films, the kickboxing-themed drama (winner of the top award at this year's Dances With Films Festival) is directed by Ziad H. Hamzeh and stars Marc Sandler, who is also the screenwriter.
With a Capt. Willard-like voice-over by retired pro fighter and haunted fortysomething Simon Penn (Sandler), which is immediately at odds with what one sees on screen, "Shadow" is an apocalyptic take on ring action that might titillate TV wrestling fans wanting more blood. Otherwise, it couldn't be less believable or marketable, even if it starred Robin Williams and Winona Ryder.
Set in Lewiston, Maine, "Shadows" depicts a comic-book-simple world where violence is embraced as a lifestyle choice. But it's really an anti-violence movie, as that choice comes with a price. Accept this excuse for its choreographed mayhem, and "Shadow" is still a confusing mess where the characters' actions make little sense and the finale is particularly noxious.
Balding and cuddly except when he's angry, ex-contender Simon has left his wife home alone too many times. So he stays away, quits the vicious sport of kickboxing for good and becomes a martial arts teacher. In a disjointed, poorly constructed scenario that needlessly withholds details and gives none of the characters any interesting/evocative dialogue, "Shadow" becomes a cautionary tale of bad karma by way of Simon's mentoring a bashing young woman.
Just because she wants to test her limits, to try to be "the best in the world," Sissy Spacek-sized CJ Keyes Sarah Rachel Isenberg) easily persuades Simon to train her to fight the tattooed skinhead champ "Killer" Kuzinski (Michael Denney), who cripples and sometimes kills his opponents. Levelheaded sideline players who prove ineffective at stopping this predictable bloodbath are Simon's skittish mate (Linda Amendola) and CJ's mildly worried boyfriend (Jason Moscartolo).
Using slow motion too often and pretentiously shifting to black-and-white images -- while letting no opportunity pass without drawing attention to bloody mouths, mouthfuls of blood being spit on people, bloody hands smearing blood on faces and bloody mouthpieces artily flying through the air -- "Shadow" has CJ become a headache-plagued monster and Simon her Dr. Frankenstein. Nobody does a bloody thing to forestall the multiple deaths and nonstop unpleasantness of the climax, though the oppressively serious approach takes its toll, and by this point, one is more killingly amused than feeling abused.
SHADOW GLORIES
Hamzeh Mystique Films
A Paul F. Harron Jr. production
Director: Ziad H. Hamzeh
Screenwriter: Marc Sandler
Producers: Ziad H. Hamzeh, Bert Brown, Marc Sandler
Executive producer: Paul F. Harron Jr.
Director of photography: Kurt Brabbee
Editor: Gregory Ruzzin
Music: Kareem Roustom
Color/stereo
Cast:
Simon Penn: Marc Sandler
CJ Keyes: Sarah Rachel Isenberg
Eddie "Killer" Kuzinski: Michael Denney
Jenny: Linda Amendola
Matty O'Shea: Jason Moscartolo
Running time -- 107 minutes
MPAA rating: R...
With a Capt. Willard-like voice-over by retired pro fighter and haunted fortysomething Simon Penn (Sandler), which is immediately at odds with what one sees on screen, "Shadow" is an apocalyptic take on ring action that might titillate TV wrestling fans wanting more blood. Otherwise, it couldn't be less believable or marketable, even if it starred Robin Williams and Winona Ryder.
Set in Lewiston, Maine, "Shadows" depicts a comic-book-simple world where violence is embraced as a lifestyle choice. But it's really an anti-violence movie, as that choice comes with a price. Accept this excuse for its choreographed mayhem, and "Shadow" is still a confusing mess where the characters' actions make little sense and the finale is particularly noxious.
Balding and cuddly except when he's angry, ex-contender Simon has left his wife home alone too many times. So he stays away, quits the vicious sport of kickboxing for good and becomes a martial arts teacher. In a disjointed, poorly constructed scenario that needlessly withholds details and gives none of the characters any interesting/evocative dialogue, "Shadow" becomes a cautionary tale of bad karma by way of Simon's mentoring a bashing young woman.
Just because she wants to test her limits, to try to be "the best in the world," Sissy Spacek-sized CJ Keyes Sarah Rachel Isenberg) easily persuades Simon to train her to fight the tattooed skinhead champ "Killer" Kuzinski (Michael Denney), who cripples and sometimes kills his opponents. Levelheaded sideline players who prove ineffective at stopping this predictable bloodbath are Simon's skittish mate (Linda Amendola) and CJ's mildly worried boyfriend (Jason Moscartolo).
Using slow motion too often and pretentiously shifting to black-and-white images -- while letting no opportunity pass without drawing attention to bloody mouths, mouthfuls of blood being spit on people, bloody hands smearing blood on faces and bloody mouthpieces artily flying through the air -- "Shadow" has CJ become a headache-plagued monster and Simon her Dr. Frankenstein. Nobody does a bloody thing to forestall the multiple deaths and nonstop unpleasantness of the climax, though the oppressively serious approach takes its toll, and by this point, one is more killingly amused than feeling abused.
SHADOW GLORIES
Hamzeh Mystique Films
A Paul F. Harron Jr. production
Director: Ziad H. Hamzeh
Screenwriter: Marc Sandler
Producers: Ziad H. Hamzeh, Bert Brown, Marc Sandler
Executive producer: Paul F. Harron Jr.
Director of photography: Kurt Brabbee
Editor: Gregory Ruzzin
Music: Kareem Roustom
Color/stereo
Cast:
Simon Penn: Marc Sandler
CJ Keyes: Sarah Rachel Isenberg
Eddie "Killer" Kuzinski: Michael Denney
Jenny: Linda Amendola
Matty O'Shea: Jason Moscartolo
Running time -- 107 minutes
MPAA rating: R...
- 7/8/2004
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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