SHORT FILM REVIEW
MICKEY HARDAWAY
A young sketch artist visits a renowned psychiatrist as his life begins spiralling out of control.
ABUSE IS A BEAST with many faces. Sometimes it manifests as just one, but often, the recipient is hammered by many faces of the beast all at once. It's a scary world out there, and what happens behind closed doors can cause more suffering than the typical bully situation. But when you have it coming from all sides, you need an outlet otherwise, you're more than likely doomed before you even get the chance. Mickey Hardaway is one such case. A young man on the verge of great things, but being held back not just by bullies but by his own family, mainly his father. Luckily for him, Mickey has some support in the form of a guidance teacher, and a psychiatrist, and both want Mickey to succeed. But will it be enough?
MICKEY SUSPECTS THAT HIS FATHER GOT HOLD OF IT, AND THREW IT OUT
This short film begins well enough, with Mickey talking with a teacher about his art. His teacher also thinks Mickey should open a gallery and showcase his works. It's at this point that Mickey Hardaway starts to follow another path. There's concern because Mickey hadn't received his letter of acceptance from a well known art institute. The only reason the teacher found out is because they sent him a copy as well. But where did it go? Mickey suspects his father got hold of it and threw it out. Mickey's father is the opposite of supportive, but an unsupportive family is not Mickey's only concern right now.
As Mickey uses the restroom, he is confronted by a bully. Mickey stands up for himself, even spits in the bully's face, but is beaten up in the process. Going home offers no support. His father, while watching a game on TV, admits to throwing away the school letter. He then goes into a tirade about Mickey having to grow up and join the real world. The real world killed Mickey's father's dreams, and now, Mickey's father will kill his sons. It all speaks to generational cycles of abuse, and after a brief physical scuffle, Mickey goes to see his psychiatrist. 
THE PSYCHIATRIST HAD ALSO DEALT WITH SIMILAR ISSUES WHEN HE WAS GROWING UP.
It's the conversation with his psychiatrist that takes up the last of Mickey Hardaway, and where we find out a lot of key bits of information. We learn of Mickey's past issues with his father, and his feelings toward success. We also find out that the psychiatrist had also dealt with similar issues when he was growing up, and that he stuck with it and made his own path to travel. But it wasn't easy. The two share a connection to each other that has yet to be fully explored, and Mickey Hardaway ends on a cliffhanger. It's easy to guess where the story plans to go from here, but unless you are Marcellus Cox, guessing is all I could do.
MICKEY HARDAWAY IS THE SMALLEST OF LOOKS INTO THE REAL WORLD
I've always enjoyed a good short film, and Mickey Hardaway is one such project. It's bleak in the sense you can fully believe this story has happened in real life, is happening in real life but offers a glimpse of light at the end of the tunnel. Just a glimpse, and the cliffhanger ending makes its mark with no problem at all. Mickey Hardaway is the smallest of looks into the real world, and if it gives you even the smallest bit of sympathy or even disgust at certain issues, its done it's job. I look forward to where this is all heading, and I hope to get to see it all happen. A great short film.
Callum Reds MICKEY HARDAWAY from Marcellus Cox on Vimeo. DROP A COMMENT, RATE THE MOVIE, OR SHARE?
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