Beast looks like a meat ‘n’ potatoes sports drama, but who doesn’t like meat ‘n’ potatoes?
If I just toss out the phrase “Australian MMA drama co-written by and starring Russell Crowe“, you probably already know your level of interest. For me, that level is reasonably high – I’m digging Rusty’s cheerfully iconoclastic third act as he shows up in both awards fodder and whatever fun B movies strike his fancy with equal enthusiasm, and you can see the appeal for him here: he gets to play a beefier version of Burgess Meredith’s Mickey from Rocky. That alone has to be worth a spin.
Beast Trailer
What’s the plot?
As the official synopsis tells us:
Patton James (Daniel MacPherson) once had all the hallmarks for greatness – before he walked away from it all. Now a blue-collar husband and father on Sydney’s outskirts, he lives quietly with a past he’d rather forget. When his brother Malon (Mojean Aria) is left broken and debt-ridden after a savage ONE Championship bout, that quiet is shattered. To avenge his brother and hold his family together, he must earn back the trust of grizzled veteran trainer Sammy (Russell Crowe) – and step back into the cage with the reigning champion who has been waiting years to finish what they started.
That’s pretty rote, but it’s the kind of rote that can make for a great viewing experience – it doesn’t have to be more complicated than it is. Beast is directed by Tyler Atkins (the underseen Bosch & Rockit) from a screenplay by, as we noted, Crowe and David Frigerio (Land Of Bad).
Who’s in it?
- Russell Crowe as Sammy.
- Daniel MacPherson as Patton James.
- Luke Hemsworth as Gabriel Stone.
- Mojean Aria as Malon.
- Kelly Gale as Luciana.
- George Burgess as Neal.
- Bren Foster as Xavier Grau.
- Saphira Moran as Nadine James.
- Amy Shark as Rose.
When’s it out?
Beast hits Australian cinemas on April 23.
What’s the vibe?
Like I said, you already know if you’re in or out. I’m in.
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