- Release Date: 08/11/2024
- Platform: Netflix
- Runtime: 5 Episodes (43 minutes – 65 minutes)
- Cast: Melvin Boomer, Franck Gastambide, Bosh, Camille de Sablet
- Creator: Sylvain Caron, Franck Gastambide
Action Takes the Spotlight in Gastambide’s Love Letter to MMA That feels Recycled Yet Riveting
Franck Gastambide’s “The Cage” has enough story to make up three different boxing films, and all of them would work well enough even though they wouldn’t be very original. The protagonist of this five-episode-long series is Taylor (Melvin Boomer), a disadvantaged kid with dreams of becoming the biggest name in the UFC. He wants to be trained by Boss (played by Gastambide) but is told that he isn’t yet good enough to merit being trained. Boss is busy shaping the next UFC hopeful at his gym. On the day Taylor decides to quit the gym and save the money he was wasting there, as his professional career seems to be going nowhere, he is presented with a unique opportunity.
Ebrahim Ibara (Bosh), a despicable bully and MMA champion notorious for brutalizing his sparring partners just before major fights, walks into Taylor’s gym and challenges the professionals to spar with him. Boss warns everyone against taking him on, but Taylor accepts the challenge and ends up knocking Ibara down. A clip of the fight goes viral, and nothing remains the same for either fighter.
While watching the series, I found myself genuinely unsure of what would happen next, at least at two junctures: during the beginning of the third episode and again at the end of the fourth. The series could have summarily ended on these two points and no one would have questioned the makers. The plot borrows heavily from films like the “Rocky series” (even mirroring the fight results), “Million Dollar Baby”, and “Warrior”. Each of these films contributes story elements that are addressed and resolved over the course of a few episodes before transitioning to the next arc. This constant shift in the story’s focus ensures that the intrigue and dramatic tension are never lost.
Taylor begins as an amateur fighter who knocks down a champion during a sparring session by sheer coincidence. He then challenges the champion and is trained—not by Boss—but by another legendary MMA fighter. He goes on to deliver a sensational performance against the champion, setting himself up for a promising career in the UFC. Surprisingly, Taylor has to give up this opportunity for a much harsher and more unforgiving stint in KSW, where he must fight three bouts a night. He does this to earn quick money to help his mother, who is at the mercy of violent loan sharks. During his last fight in KSW, Taylor is violently knocked out, and the trauma renders him incapable of fighting. When another clash with Ibara arises, Taylor bows out without a fight. Things look bleak for him, but Boss finds a way to bring him back on track. By the final episode and the climactic showdown between Taylor and Ibara, the protagonist has endured predicaments and torments comparable to those of the heroes/heroine in the three aforementioned films. The emotional weight carried by the character that is developed through these dramatic exchanges resonates in every punch he throws in the finale and the support that he garners from the audience that has been with him through this journey.
This, for me, was the series’ greatest strength. Taylor’s life is marked by continuous drama and change, moving from one intense challenge to another. This not only gives the director ample opportunities to explore different facets of Taylor’s emotions and practically life-threatening fighting sequences but also rounds out the character as someone who has endured numerous tragedies and a few unforgettable victories ensuring the necessary build-up for each of the portions of the multifaceted story and culminating with the necessary release (much hyped by Alfred Hitchcock).
I looked into Franck Gastambide’s previous works and his background online but couldn’t find any connection to MMA. Interestingly, watching the series gives the impression that the director must be deeply passionate about the sport and possess extensive knowledge—not only of the training that builds champions but also of the common challenges professionals face as they strive for a career in MMA. As Boss, his “grasshopper” speeches feel grounded and authentic, giving the impression that they come from a place of genuine understanding. The way he interacts with the MMA fighters, including Taylor, feels natural and adds to the inherent realism of the series. His portrayal of Boss is compelling, capturing the character’s selfishness at the start, which stems from a limited perception of Taylor’s potential, and his eventual understanding of the fighter’s true worth.
In terms of performance, Gastambide excels, leaving no room for complaints and establishing Boss as a memorable and unique character. His direction of the other major players, as well as how he navigates the three distinct story arcs and ties them all together with a powerful conclusion, deserves praise. He hits the right balance between action and human drama and both aspects of it work in favour of the story that he sets out to tell. The series is technically proficient with the cinematography, editing and approach to the storytelling all lining up perfectly to deliver a compounded impact. I would go to the extent of saying that He was even able to extract respectable performances from the MMA superstars who figure prominently in the film and atleast one of them has a very important role to essay.
Melvin Boomer, as Taylor, had to deliver a nuanced performance that blended the dramatic representation of his life’s conflicts with the uncontrollable rage he had to display in the ring. While I did find that he maintained the same expressions for longer than I would have preferred, he successfully portrayed his character and its many struggles with just enough heart to make the necessary impact. When it comes to the action sequences, he excels, and these are the portions where he seems most comfortable. Even in the training montages—of which there are many—Boomer shines exuding the right vibes. Among the dramatic moments that he is a part of, his scenes with his mother stand out as the most organic and leave the deepest emotional impact. The romantic angle involving Camille de Sablet felt unnecessary and forced and could have been avoided completely.
Bosh, on the other hand, absolutely nailed the role of Ibrahim Ibara with his vengeful and detestable performance. Every second he is on screen, he exudes a detestable and menacing presence that makes him truly loathsome. The sheer hatred his character evokes significantly elevates the impact of the action sequences he shares with Boomer. The director wisely allows Ibrahim to dominate the fights for extended periods before a flash of brilliance from Taylor turns the tide in his favour. The more Ibrahim gets to overpower Taylor, the more hateful he becomes, to the point where I was practically cheering for Taylor to kill him. When an actor can draw such intense emotions from the audience, he has undoubtedly succeeded in his role. Like Boomer, Bosh is physically well-suited for the action sequences, and he remains a constant threat throughout the series. This ensures that every fight between him and Boomer is characterized by palpable tension and high stakes, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats.
The action and training sequences are the true USPs of this series, and they are so well executed that they make the time spent watching completely worthwhile. The action is not only filled with grit, physicality, and uncontrollable rage but is also captured and edited in a way that feels both cinematic and realistic. This ensures that while the sequences remain believable, the cinematic qualities are never compromised, offering the audience the best of both worlds. The fact that the actors performed their own stunts and that many fighters doubled as actors, allowed the cinematographer to capture the action in ways best suited to the presentation. The fight choreographer deserves special mention for ensuring that the fights felt brutal, gritty, and infused with chaotic energy, yet maintained an underlying sense of structure and order. This careful balance made each fight not just exciting but also impactful, leaving a lasting impression on the viewer.
The Cage may be a rehash of multiple, better films in the same genre, but it is made with enough heart and has enough merit in terms of its action and performances to warrant at least one watch. While the action takes centre stage, the story and characters are developed just enough to provide the perfect motivations and the required intrigue to enjoy the action as it deserves to be enjoyed. I had a fun time with it, and I believe the same will be true for anyone willing to look past its inherent limitations that come with recreating something that has already been successfully done.
Rating: 3/5 (3 out of 5 Stars)
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