Salvable

Greetings again from the darkness. After reading the synopsis, I was tempted to pass on this one and move on to the next film on the list. What could possibly be appealing about another fading boxer whose life is in shambles? Co-directors Bjorn Franklin (also the screenwriter) and Johnny Marchetta are frequent collaborators on music videos, and this, their first feature film, is a solid action-melodrama with some moving parts that all (OK, mostly) come together. It also has a surprisingly effective lead performance.

Living in Wales, Sal (Toby Kebbell, "Servant") is a past-his-prime boxer taking falls in the ring at night, while showing touching care in his day job at the local Nursing Home. Sal is getting by, but it's clear he needs no sunglasses for his future. His teenage daughter, Molly (Kila Lord Cassidy) is holding on to anger towards him, while his ex-wife (Elaine Cassidy) mostly wishes he would just leave them alone. Matching the mostly joyless life Sal leads is the lighting and atmosphere created by the filmmakers ... hometown looks like a place where smiles are rare.

Just as we are adjusting to Sal's bleak existence and his misguided attempts to improve his lot through his job and slowly improving relationship with Molly, a bad influence pops up in the form of Vince (Shia LaBeouf). Sal and Vince were friends and boxing buddies in their younger days, and now, just out of prison, Vince wants to get the band back together for nefarious activities that can bring them some cash. And just like that, the melodrama of Sal's struggling becomes a bit of a crime drama, where Vince infuses chaos and Sal makes more poor decisions.

Sal's long-time trainer and mentor, old-timer Welly (James Cosmo) tries desperately to keep Sal on track and even scores him a real opportunity for redemption. Of course, we have come to know Sal as a man with the best intentions, but an inability to overcome the constant hurdles life puts in his way. Toby Kebbell delivers a truly touching performance as Sal, and his personal struggles are certainly the best part of the film. Shia LaBeouf adds heft as a guy we may initially misjudge, yet in this world happy endings are tougher to come by than victories in the ring.

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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.

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.

Is it a hit or a knockout blow?

Salvable tells the story of Sal (Toby Kebbell), an ex-boxer who has hit on hard times following his last loss in the ring. Whilst continuing to train with grizzly boxing coach Welly (James Cosmo), Sal struggles to keep motivated with his care home job and creates more tensions with his ex-wife when trying to get custody of his daughter.

This get even more tense when his old friend Vince (Shia LaBeouf) turns up after 14 years in jail and begins to rope Sal into the world of underground illegal bareknuckle fighting. Once Sal sees the lucrative draw of the scene, can he keep himself grounded enough to keep life in order or will he spiral out of control even more with the temptation of glory?

Salvable has all the hallmarks of a story we've seen a million times: The underdog, the down-on-his-luck-ex-fighter, the troubled family life, the redemption arc. It would have been easy for this to be a film with an 80's power-ballad training montage and an "ultimate victory" moment, however, the film steers away from being a Hollywood crowd pleaser, and maintains it's gritty bleakness throughout.

Toby Kebbell's performance as Sal is fantastic. He is believable throughout whether it be the boxing training scenes or the plight of the underachieving father. He can say a lot without actually saying it. His mannerisms and tone of delivery does a lot of the work for him, the sign of a truly great actor.

Then there's Shia LaBoeuf. In the first moment he's on screen and you realise he's doing a strong Irish accent, you realise that this is a strong performance from the actor. He's authentic and really well put together.

I went into Salvable not expecting to be blown away but I really enjoyed the performances, the story and the setting. This film was made by someone who wanted to show an authentic look at life rather than a glamorous redemption story.

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.