Synopsis
A young sketch artist agrees to a in-house therapy session with a well renowned psychiatrist as his life begins sprawling out of control after years of physical and verbal abuse has finally taken a toll on him.
Mickey Hardaway
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Theatrical
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USA
Releases by Country
USA
02 Feb 2023
- Theatrical
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This is a toughie for me, as it's the first time I'm reviewing a film that someone I consider a friend created. There's no way to truly remove bias, and so I will not try.
For the last several years, I have seen Marcellus Cox embody the true meaning of the phrase "be on that grind". The fruition of those efforts, to see the forever promised first feature on the big screen felt like one of MY proudest moments.
The film tells the story of how the cycle of violence perpetuated in not just the black community, but all communities, creates a situation in which a person of emmense talent can be brought to the very bottom of his humanity…
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How much time you got?
It's this question, the tag line for writer/director Marcellus Cox's feature directorial debut Mickey Hardaway, that radiates throughout this masterful indie debut that had its world premiere just this past month at the Kansas City Film Festival. This question, the words "How much time you got?", speaks to the overwhelming impact of generational trauma and bullying into which we are enveloped as we journey into the world of this young man, this Mickey Hardaway.
Mickey Hardaway, played extraordinarily by Rashad Hunter, is a promising young sketch artist who agrees to an in-house therapy session with a renowned psychiatrist as his life begans sprawling out of control after years of verbal and physical abuse have taken…
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A strong feature debut from Marcellus Cox, there’s a palpably tense atmosphere running throughout and the story has a great weight to it.
It’s rooted in reality but it’s not trying too hard to be gritty or grim, it nicely lets the harshness of Mickey’s reality speak for itself.
Full review: filmcarnage.com/2023/06/19/review-mickey-hardaway/
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Where To Watch: TBA
RAVING REVIEW: MICKEY HARDAWAY, a compelling drama directed by Marcellus Cox that follows the life of Mickey (Rashad Hunter), a young artist grappling with the aftermath of verbal and physical abuse. As Mickey's father, Randall Hardaway (David Chattam), belittles his ambitions, the film looks at the consequences for Mickey and those around him. It’s a telling story that is a personal journey, a dialogue-heavy narrative broken up by shocking moments on screen.
Cox both wrote and directed this tale highlighting the battles fought by individuals who dare to dream beyond the everyday grind, especially when faced with doubt and negativity. The film looks at what it means to do more than just dream; to take your…
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Written and directed by Marcellus Cox, MICKEY HARDAWAY is about a troubled young man spiraling into a violent emotional rage. In some ways, it is a story we’ve seen a hundred times before, that of a disaffected youth, abused by life and forgotten by the systems, but they are usually white. Instead, Mickey (Rashad Hunter) is a young black man, a talented cartoonist whose life is overflowing with tragedy and obstacles.
Read my full review at The Fandomentals
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I love this film, the direction and cinematographer was phenomenal and the cast was great. This is really powerful indie film.
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If there’s one thing any of us know for certain, none of us choose to be here. We don’t will ourselves into existence, we’re formed through the combining of genetic material, gestated until we’re ready (or not) to be released into the world. From there, as we develop into full humans, we decide how we want to exist in the world, except it’s not so easy to just make a declaration and go forth to make it so. Sometimes our development is held back by those responsible for guiding our growth refusing to do more than the bare minimum, either due to circumstance, generational trauma, or plain disinterest. But what happens to the children in these circumstances? Writer/director Marcellus Cox…
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Full review: filmblitz.org/mickey-hardaway-2023/
Not exactly a bundle of laughs, obviously, and matters there are enhanced by starkly effective black-and-white photography, that reduce the world to something like one of Mickey's sketches. The appropriately-named Grace is the only light in his life, and it's when he pushes her away that Mickey's free-fall reaches terminal velocity. It's rarely a good sign when someone starts doing Travis Bickle impressions in his bedroom mirror (top). The twisted thing is, by the end, you could be left wondering if his father might have been right after all. For while society's callous indifference is certainly a factor, you can argue it's Mickey's dreams, and his pursuit of them, which are the root of all his pain, suffering and eventual explosion.
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Powerfully beautiful Marcellus Cox shines in his directorial debut with Mickey Hardaway. We are introduced to Mickey Hardaway a struggling young artist who unbeknownst to him is haunted by his past childhood trauma. After losing his job Mickey finds himself unable to handle life. His girlfriend Grace (Ashley Parchment) recommends an esteemed psychiatrist Dr. Cameron Harden (Stephen Cofield Jr.) Mickey agrees and it is in these sessions we learn of Mickey’s horrific childhood abuse from his father Randall Hardaway (David Chattam ) and his fearful mother (Gayla Johnson).
Shot entirely in black and white the only color we get is when Mickey meets Grace as we see Grace is the only color, and brightness in his painful black-and-white life.
Every…
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It’s hard to be good when all you know is evil.
A tragic story that has been told in a million different ways. This telling offers a compassionate look at a young black man whose life painfully disintegrates before our eyes.
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Phenomenal work, the cast was great and the direction and cinematography was great. I really enjoyed this film and look forward to seeing what the director Marcellus Cox does next.