Read @ Joe’s

Title: Mickey Hardaway (2023) Director: Marcellus Cox Writer: Marcellus Cox Studio: Indie Rights Movies IMDb Plot: 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. Joe Says: Marcellus Cox’s debut movie is soulful and purpose-driven. The script is deep and dark that ironically brings truth to light. Mickey Hardaway might be a tragic movie but is not disappointing.

Marcellus Cox’s debut movie is soulful and purpose-driven. His script is deep and dark that ironically brings truth to light. Truths about abuse and neglect that do not want to rise to the surface. Yet these hard edges are tempered with the softer dreams of youth and their rightful power. Mickey Hardaway might be a tragic movie but is not disappointing. The anger that boils over is indeed righteous albeit not fully justified. 

Los Angeles might be the city of dreams to some. The weather is warm. Palm trees touch the sky. However, Cox, along with cinematographer Jamil Gooding, portray the grim reality of Mickey Hardaway in strict black-and-white. Where asphalt and the night meet as one and the same dark pitch festers in the heart of Rashad Hunter’s titular character. Mickey is introduced committing murder most foul. He is saturated in sweat and fear and rage; he drives a car that was old three owners back. He invades a penthouse apartment that is sweet with wine and warm in comfort. Cox proceeds to unravel his story. 

Cox flashes back to Mickey’s abuse by his father (David Chattam), a stereotypical outta work, outta luck character. Randall Hardaway has no problem in taking out his frustrations on young Mickey by punishing him with a belt and squashing his dreams of art school. The stories of a troubled youth are bridged with Mickey’s therapy sessions led by Dr Harden (Stephen Cofield). Harden pushes while Mickey pulls. Eventually, sadly, Mickey spills. 

Mickey Hardaway is a hard-driven drama and pulls none of its punches. Family, love, work, and acceptance, especially within the Black community in the 2020s, are all relatable themes that scream for exploration. Cox looks at these slowly; contemplatively. He offers roads not taken but these are paradoxically the quickest of glances. A little more visual hope, alongside that colorful She’s Gotta Have It stylized date scene with Mickey and Grace, could have broken up that vengeful monotony. The crawling pace needed to pick up as a reflection of Mickey’s turbulence yet the ambling continued as a single beat.

Mickey Hardaway visually works as a series of powerful vignettes that are all beautifully, theatrically staged. The connection between these scenes is where Cox takes a slight stumble. The movie spends much of its runtime keeping Mickey at a simmer prior to his boiling over. Although there is rage aplenty within the young man, the ultimate escalation is never firmly established. Mickey has his Travis Bickle moment talking at the mirror but that explosion nearly comes as a surprise instead of liberation.  

Such polish will continue as Cox hones his craft further. I, for one, am greatly looking forward to seeing what artistry Marcellus Cox conjures next.