Jennifer Lopez, Matt Damon (but No Ben Affleck) Bring Inspirational Sports Drama ‘Unstoppable’ to Toronto

As a lifelong cinephile who has seen more movies than I can count on two hands (and still have fingers left over), I must admit that “Unstoppable” has left an indelible mark on my heart. The film, based on the inspiring true story of Anthony Robles, is a testament to the human spirit’s resilience and the power of love and support.


Jennifer Lopez, well-known as “Jenny from the Block,” navigated towards the city’s Six district for the opening night of “Unstoppable,” an emotionally resonant sports film, which premiered on Friday at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Jennifer Lopez, playing a strong, loving mother of five, collaborated on the film with her former spouse Ben Affleck, whose production company, Artists Equity, acted as producers for the project. Despite their divorce filing in August, just shy of two years into their marriage, Affleck himself was not present at the festival. However, his co-founder and friend Matt Damon from Artists Equity attended the premiere and graced the red carpet instead.

Regardless of the overcast skies, large groups of enthusiastic spectators flocked to the crimson carpet, hoping to catch a peek – perhaps even snap a picture – of Lopez along with her fellow actors Jharrel Jerome, Don Cheadle and Bobby Cannavale.

The film titled ‘Unstoppable’ showcases Jerome (from ‘Moonlight’) as an ambitious college wrestler aiming for the professional league. This movie is inspired by the remarkable real-life story of Anthony Robles, a man born without his right leg who overcame this challenge and honed his strength and abilities to match the rigorous standards of Arizona State University’s wrestling squad.

Throughout the screening at Roy Thomson Hall, viewers repeatedly clapped and dabbed tears away during particularly emotional scenes in the movie. The cast members were present throughout the film, with Cannavale briefly leaving and then reappearing with a bag of popcorn. As the end credits began to play, the real Robles was met with a two-minute standing ovation. During this ovation, Cheadle waved to the crowd while Damon congratulated the younger stars, saying “Well done, everyone! Fantastic!

After the movie ended, Robles enjoyed a heartwarming standing ovation for a second time during the question-and-answer session following the screening.

“It’s still hitting me tonight,” he said. “I’m so proud. I couldn’t be any happier.”

Lopez, who was warmly welcomed by the audience as well, shared a deep bond with Anthony’s mom, Judy Robles, who bravely faces both physical and emotional struggles in nurturing her son’s aspirations.

Upon reading the script, it resonated with me and many other women as we could identify with the challenges she faced,” Lopez expressed. “Seeing a story about a Latina character was incredibly inspiring and captivating for me.

Even though Lopez has played real individuals in the past, such as Selena in the biopic, she didn’t always find a strong connection to help mold her performance. However, for “Unstoppable,” she found it valuable to have video chats with Judy.

Speaking as a cinema enthusiast, I’d say this film offered a unique journey for me. There was an uncanny resemblance, if you will. We were two sides of the same coin, in a sense. At our cores, we shared the essence and heart of who we truly are – and that happened to be mothers at first.

Judy Robles, who was at the premiere and took part in the Q&A session, praised Lopez’s acting abilities. She addressed her on-screen character by saying: “You embodied me – with the spunk, but also the sorrow and anguish. Bobby, you gave me quite a scare.

“But in a funny way?” Cannavale, who plays her abusive husband, joked.

In his first directorial venture, William Goldenberg – a renowned Oscar winner known for editing Affleck’s movies like “Argo” and “Air” – expressed gratitude for having Ben Affleck and Matt Damon as collaborators, referring to them as his fortunate partners.

He expressed his gratitude, stating that they helped him achieve success and prepared him well. He acknowledged their efforts, admitting that Ben’s confidence in him was greater than his own self-belief.” (or)

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2024-09-07 04:16