“Beast” follows MMA legend Patton James, who is pulled back into the cage for one final fight against champion Xavier Grau.
Been There, Done That
At every turn, “Beast” is a by-the-numbers sports drama. Athlete comes out of retirement for a rematch. Check. He reunites with an old coach. Check. His wife is afraid of fighting. Check. A deceased family member. Check.
If you haven’t gotten the picture yet, the list really goes on and on.
It’s because of this that “Beast” is a frustrating experience. When the film fully commits to one idea at a time, it shines. The problem? This doesn’t happen often.
Narrative That is All Over the Place
David Frigerio and Russell Crowe’s script is all over the place. The audience is expected to root for Patton and those around him — because what else would you do? However, the movie doesn’t give the characters surrounding the protagonist enough screen time. Still, as the film progresses, it tends to value emotional storylines over anything else. Most of them come across as half-baked because there simply isn’t enough to invest in.
In fact, “Beast” doesn’t even fully commit to its central arc until past the midway point.
It’s a tonal and pacing nightmare because of this. Two-thirds of “Beast” is a family drama; one-third is fighting. But because the emotional aspects of the movie don’t resonate, most of the 113-minute runtime falls flat. When it does shift into full-on “sports mode,” it comes across as more of a sizzle reel.
Hits Hard… Just Not Where It Counts
Cinematographer Thomaz LaBanca does capture riveting fight sequences, though. Within the cage, the camera is constantly moving. Combined with Todd E. Miller’s editing, the experience is chaotic. You can feel the punches to the face, knees to the stomach or kicks to the leg. Both LaBanca and Miller’s work contribute to this.
Director Tyler Atkins has a grip on the MMA aspect of “Beast.” Everything else… not so much.
Daniel MacPherson (Patton) excels in the lead role. Despite his character arc growing clouded, he still makes Patton’s grit, pain and even desperation resonate. He’s soft-spoken at times and rageful in others. MacPherson also brings all the physicality needed for the role.
Bren Foster (Xavier) also succeeds as the antagonist. While his villainous nature is cliché, he still achieves exactly what he’s supposed to do: make the audience root against him.
Russell Crowe (Sammy) is featured here as well. He brings gritty energy to the movie, delivering a plethora of memorable lines that stick. Also appearing in the film are Mojean Aria (Malon), Kelly Gale (Luciana), Luke Hemsworth (Gabriel Stone), Amy Shark (Rose) and George Burgess (Neal).
Even with all the talent on display, the cast is never able to fully mesh together. MacPherson and Gale don’t have believable chemistry — mostly because the film doesn’t spend enough time with them. A lot of the major conflicts ultimately come across as forced as well because the onscreen individuals are so exaggerated. The actors each deliver their lines well, but they are oftentimes written in a way that makes them feel rehearsed beyond believability.
“Beast” packs a punch… of stereotypes. It’s a “greatest hits” sports movie that fails to develop anything outside of the fights themselves.
Rating: 2 out of 5
