Review: ‘Salvable’

Life doesn’t always end up the way you expect and Sal (Toby Kebbell) is finding that out firsthand in Salvable. Once a promising boxer and talk of the town, things have turned for the worse. Sal was The Bull. A feared competitor on his way to true boxing greatness. Along with his blossoming career he also had a loving wife, Elaine (Elaine Cassidy) and daughter Molly (Kíla Lord Cassidy). Now over a decade later and he is a has-been.    

Sal is divorced and estranged from Molly and Elaine. He pops in and out of their lives, causing a big rift and is essentially a stranger to Molly. He works at an elder facility where he is amazing with the residents. Showing care and patience. The rest of his time he is still in the ring with his trainer Welly (James Cosmo) in his corner. Not training for fights himself, but being a human punching bag for the next generation of fighters. Sal wants to be a better man, a better father. Yet the past is always in the back of his mind…wondering what could have been.

Then all of a sudden Vince (Shia LaBeouf) is back from prison. That past that has been subdued is now back in flesh and blood. Vince reminds Sal of their glory days – when they ruled the town. Vince keeps tempting Sal with opportunities, saying Sal deserves more than the life he has. There is only so long that any good man can hold out when that darkness is inside of him.   

Bjorn Franklin and Johnny Marchetta co directed the film while Franklin wrote it. Franklin and Marchetta have co-directed and co-wrote two films in the past – however they were both shorts. Salvable is their feature length debut and, especially in that context, is a knockout. Franlin and Marchetta create a moody atmosphere heightened by a perfect soundtrack. The cinematography is solid with amazing shots throughout. While the script doesn’t reinvent the wheel, there are some fantastic lines – especially from Vince – that are memorable and hit home. The film doesn’t drag and while the ending leaves a lot to be desired, the rest of the film is top notch.

The entire cast turns in solid performances, but Kebbell and LaBeouf stand above the rest. Their intimate portrayals, especially Kebbell’s, add a realism to the characters and story. They draw you in and make you really care about what happens. You find yourself connecting to the characters even without sharing their exact experiences. Everyone has felt a weight on their shoulders, maybe not like the one that Sal is carrying, but enough to relate. Kebbell’s performance bridges that gap and it becomes tough to not end up rooting for Sal. Salvable takes a premise we’ve seen before and still manages to create an interesting product that is absolutely worth a watch. While you will be in for an entertaining film, don’t expect all sunshine and rainbows.

Salvable is available now On Demand from Lionsgate.