Director Marcellus Cox brings us the long awaited feature version of his short film, Mickey Hardaway. And it’s worth the wait. Cox makes the transition seamlessly, expanding the story perfectly to fit the new timeframe such that this doesn’t feel like a feature film that began life as a short film. This perhaps has to do with Cox’s long term vision when beginning the Mickey Hardaway project. It’s clear he had this goal in mind the whole time, and his tireless efforts to pull it off have proved extremely effective.
Cox wastes no time in plunging us straight into Mickey’s world – into the emotional turmoil he wrestles with. We begin in medias res, finding out almost immediately that this is a story that will end violently. By doing this, Cox forces the viewer to engage in the present of the narrative, rather than hoping or guessing how it will end. The consequences are laid bare from the get go, allowing us to pay closer attention to the steps that lead Mickey to this tipping point. Another feature that works to focus viewers’ attention is the use of black and white. The lack of colour makes us pay attention to tonal variation, to texture, to light and shade. It helps to reflect the dismal world Mickey is trapped in, while also reflecting his only escape – drawing. The black and white of the film becomes reminiscent of Mickey’s drawings – the one thing that brings joy and hope into his life.
The chief villain in his life is his father, Randall. A violent, aggressive man who does everything in his power to show his son the “reality” of the world. A reality in which art it useless. He physically and verbally abuses Mickey, leaving scars that will last a lifetime. Despite this, there are people in Mickey’s life who care and want to nurture his talent for art. One of these people is Mickey’s teacher, Mr Sweeny. Even after Mickey leaves school, Mr Sweeny has a positive impact on his ex-student, helping to land him a job as a cartoonist. Kicked out by his father, he lives in a motel. Despite the crippling student debt incurred from going to study art at university, Mickey is just about managing to get by. That is until he is betrayed by his boss. The injustice of the situation leads Mickey to lash out and costs him his position at the magazine.
Despite his struggles, Mickey has a ray of sunshine. Grace. She brings a light to Mickey’s life that he has perhaps never known. But as Mickey recounts his story to the therapist, it is clear things have still declined in his life, leading him to start drinking. Unfortunately, due to his upbringing, the only way Mickey knows how to deal with things is through violence. And violence is alienating. He shuns both Grace and the therapist, falling deeper into a pit of anger and despair. Mickey is so angry at the people who hurt him he is unable to see those who really cared and tried to help him. As a result, he ends up hurting them in a catastrophic way.
The end of Mickey Hardaway is not the ending we want. But it is the ended we required to understand how these cycles repeat themselves in real life, not just on the screen. Marcellus Cox delivers his final masterstroke through the character Mr Sweeney who reflects on the tragic story of Mickey Hardaway. The ending leaves the wind knocked out of you.
With a phenomenal cast, from Rashad Hunter as Mickey to David Chattam as his father, the film boasts an exceptional display of top-class acting. Hunter grows from the pleasant young man Mickey was meant to be into an embittered reflection of his father. Chettam as this father figure is truly terrifying, playing against Gayla Johnson as his wife and Mickey’s mother. Johnson captures the distress of a woman trying to hold her house together while it’s on fire, refusing to admit her family are burning. Dennis L.A. White as Mr Sweeny is an example of one of those beautiful souls who try so hard to preserve the good they see in people. He carries the role with an exceptional dignity. The flashback scenes to Mickey’s childhood are a brilliant feature, showcasing the skill of Blake Hezekiah as young Mickey.
The effort and attention present throughout the film is astounding. The animation of the credits was a particular highlight for me, one that exemplifies the thought that has gone into bringing this story to life. A heart-breaking story told with the bold brushstrokes of a true artistic filmmaker.
Watch the trailer below!