Film Review – Salvable

“Salvable” is the feature-length directorial debut for Johnny Marchetta and Bjorn Franklin (who also scripts), who come from the world of music videos. Instead of staying with slick visuals, the duo head in the opposite direction, creating a gritty drama about an aging boxer attempting to maintain some glimmer of hope as all the mistakes in his life threaten to destroy his spirit. It’s not a stunningly original concept for a picture, but Marchetta and Franklin treat the central crisis with care, generating a tough drama offering deep emotional wounds to explore. They also provide star Tony Kebbell with perhaps the best role of his career, pulling the normally hammy actor back down to Earth, portraying a man gradually recognizing his situation in life. “Salvable” isn’t a “Rocky” clone, sustaining a welcome gloom as it deals with difficult feelings, creating a periodically powerful sense of despair as the writing inspects the mysteries of hope. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com