REVIEW: BRUISED

 

3.5/5

Million Dollar Berry. 

138 Mins. Starring: Halle Berry, Danny Boyd Jr, Shamier Anderson, Adan Canto, Sheila Atim, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Adriane Lenox & Valentina Shevchenko. Director: Halle Berry. 

Scars and scabs. Black and blue. Bloodied and 'Bruised' like a raspberry, or a dent in the soup can life her ex-champ turned tune-up fighter has become a part of in this world of damaged goods. Halle Berry clambers INTO a UFC cage and into the directors chair for her behind the camera debut as the star of her own show. And it's as real and raw as it gets as the 'X-Men' legend and 'Monster's Ball' Academy Award winner gives us a storm of a brawl. Pulling no punches and looking like she's going for the belt of another Oscar. It was almost 20 years ago Berry had a 'Ball' and the gold. Now the 'John Wick: Chapter 3-Parabellum' sequel star shows she can kick ass again like Keanu, and defy age at 55 too, just like that vampire. So spry as she slides into the ring to box clever with actual Ultimate Fighting Champions. Like when Tom Hardy and Joel Edgerton went bare toe-to-toe in 2011's best film 'Warrior', as this one tries to go seconds out with the greatest of the calendar schedule too. Halle has been Hollywood since those Eddie Murphy 'Boomerang' days came around. She's been a Bond girl ('Die Another Day') and been a part of the 'Kingsmen' (or should we say The Statesmen of 'The Golden Circle'...we still waiting on that spin-off). But lately (if you can call 2013 lately. It's really been that long) you need to pick up 'The Call' that changed Halle Betty's destiny. Think of that one as similar to the recent Jake Gyllenhaal Netflix 911 thriller and Danish remake 'The Guilty'. Just like this movie boxes in the same circles as Gyllenhaal's 'Southpaw'. Winners circle complete with its own hip H.E.R. and Cardi B. soundtrack. Berry is a legend like the one she's playing, but far from washed. An icon and Strong Black Lead that paved the way for so many. Seeing themselves as superheroes way before her comic-book love of the 'Black Panther', or Zoe Kravitz as Catwoman. No matter what you think of Halle's origin movie. Even rapper Saweetie had to bring the costume back for the coins. Never mind your intense stare down in cameo. IKDR. But what is going on here? It's been said that Berry wants to direct again and give justice for 'Catwoman' with one more reboot. I'd like to get my claws into that. Just like holding up the umbrellas for some more 'Days Of Future Past' once Doctor Strange opens up this 'Multiverse Of Madness' before Spider-Man "Scooby Doos this crap!" 

Blood, sweat and years of pain and tears. Capoeira skills honed from 'Catwoman'. Everything has its reason, no matter who hisses at it. Berry is going all out and in in the octagon as Jackie Justice (what a name). All for the most inspirational fictional sports story up the champion jumping steps since a certain Stallion told his Adrian he got one. Steeling herself for the prison of a combatants life inside the MMA ring. Wrestling with Springsteen Newark, New Jersey notions like Mickey Rourke. Far from the 'Warrior' dimming lights of Atlantic City acting like a lower rolling Vegas. Boxing. Wrestling. Kick-boxing. Jujitsu. Juggling family drama and a son left on her porch. Childhood trauma, adversity and being wrote off more times than King James, this Queen in Brady territory is looking for her title shot at her sports Superbowl. With more than one Lady Killer looking to take her down. It's all here for Jackie searching for justice on the ropes, with her back against the cage. This blood sport like Idris Elba looks like suicide, until you see Halle throw her first cross. The harder THEY fall! Spraying blood across the floor and alcohol into her mouth from a kitchen cleaner acting as a concealer. Berry can do the professional dramatics, nuanced acting, heavy lifting in her sleep. But pound for pugilist pound, it's the punishing reps she brings to her sporting stance and her actual real fighting that is the biggest dedication to a role, body and soul since Leonardo DiCaprio's vegetarian 'Revenant' ate raw bison. Put her next to 'Ali' GOAT Will Smith's 'King Richard' Williams tennis serve for the crowing trophy. Berry is at her very best. 

Hollywood heavyweights need plenty in their corner though and Halle has that. Forthcoming 'The Marvels' star and 'John Wick: Chapter 4' 'Tracker' who might be seeing Halle again soon, Shamier Anderson is as Immaculate as the name of the character he plays, even if the game of this MMA owner is far from. Whilst in another reunion the Sunspot of 'X-Men: Days Of Future Past' star Adan Canto is so burning and convincing in his cruel intentions you'll hate him for it in all his aggression and passive playing of it like it's all passion...it's not. It's toxic. Like the "look what you made me do" words of an abuser. Berry and Canto help bring these dark corners of domestic hell to the light of hopefully some heaven sent help in the real world. Still it's the classically trained Shakespeare Globe Theatre, 'The Lightning Child' and 'Ghost Town' actress Sheila Atim that really steals the stage in this big screen theatre. Making you wish they never cancelled the 'Game Of Thrones' spin-off series 'Bloodmoon' that she was cast in. Although she will soon ride in on the BBC's 'Pale Horse'. Elevating this in its weight catergory, Atim is the bruised soul of 'Bruised'. Add character actor veteran Stephen McKinley Henderson (you want him in your corner) finally getting his due after even eclipsing some of the sands of stars in this years smartest blockbuster 'Dune' and Tony award winner Adriane Lenox washing up as Justice's drug addicted and addled mother, still with a sober heart, and you really have something.  Even real MMA UFC fighter Valentina Shevchenko gets her acting licks in. But it's the kid Danny Boyd Jr, the essence of this battle that will move you without nary a word or smile. Fight night movies in the same club may be a sponge to a bucketful of clichés, but the 'Creed' of this one still wins the bout like Jordan in this last dance. Because Berry doesn't just have a team of trainers and fighting actors behind her, she also has herself with definitive deliverance in her direction like a lucky left. And this is more than beginners fortune, like her time on the canvas aswell as the cinematic one. This is hard-worked and honed to a punching perfection. She can direct. She can fight. Far from another act. 'Bruised' may not break the skin, but it still hits you hard enough to show up the next morning in reflection. Like spitting blood in the sink under the bathroom mirror. Now ain't that a kick in the head!? TIM DAVID HARVEY. 

Further Filming: 'Million Dollar Baby', 'Warrior', 'Monster's Ball'.