Tomato Can
Genre: Drama/Sports
Director: Derek Cianfrance
Writer: Mo Buck
Cast: Alicia Vikander, Jenna Ortega, Richard Madden, Nicolas Cage, Jharrel Jerome, John Leguizamo, John Goodman, Bruce McGill
Plot: Carmen (Jenna Ortega) spares with her trainer Juan (John Leguizamo). He puts a stop to the training so they can catch their breath a little. He tells her she packs quite a punch. Carmen moves well and for an untrained eye, she looks like a legit boxer, but from an expert eye, Carmen is nothing more than a green rookie, primed to get a wakeup call as soon as she turns pro. As their practice round ends, Juan notices the sun is setting on Mexico City and calls it a day. Carmen exits the ring and looks around the depleted gym she trains in. She’s one of Juan’s only trainees. She looks at her amateur accolades hung on the wall and takes pride at winning the gold medal at the Amateur Boxing Championships two years prior, before her pregnancy.
In a stark contrast, Jenny Jones (Alicia Vikander) almost knocks down Paul (John Goodman), her long-time trainer with a vicious left hook. He calls a halt to the training while he recovers. Jenny’s husband, Geoff (Richard Madden) pays her a surprise visit at the training facility and says he’s impressed by her power and jokes to Paul that she might be too good for him now. They notice another visitor at the facility, Frank (Nicolas Cage) who interrupts their friendly banter. He says that’s what he likes to see in her champion. He knew there was a reason he didn’t strip her of her titles when he learned she was injured. Geoff intervenes and assures him her leg is fine now. Frank rudely interrupts him, saying he isn’t talking to him, he talks to the champion and her manager, not the cheerleaders. Frank says there needs to be a title fight soon, or else he’ll have to take the belts off her. Paul says he’ll get in touch with him soon and as Frank moves towards the exit, he tells him he’s in town until the end of the day.
Carmen comes back home to her husband Omar (Jharrel Jerome) and her newborn. He notices a bruise on her left cheek, and he comes to check on it. He reminds her that he hates when she’s hurt like that and perhaps it’s time to find a new calling for her career now that she’s a mother. She says she’ll listen to him when he gets a job himself, someone must work in the family. She says married him to please her family when they found out she was pregnant and as far as she knows, he didn’t love her either, they can always get a divorce. He says he knows that’s not true, and he goes back to the living room to watch television. Carmen takes care of the baby. The apartment is small and dirty. She knocks Omar on the shoulder, saying when she comes back tomorrow, she wants to place clean. He sighs and promises her he’ll do it. She looks around at the place in disbelief, with teary eyes.
Paul meets Frank in a private box at a local club. Paul looks out of his element, next to the cigar-smoking, fur-coat wearing Frank, but he isn’t intimidated. It isn’t his first rodeo with the esteemed boxing promoter. Paul asks the promoter for an easier opponent for Jenny’s comeback, to fight against ring rust against someone a little on the unexperienced side. Frank wants her to fight a real contender, but Paul gives him a winning argument that convinces Frank; they’re willing to take two thirds of her purse and give Frank a third of their purse (off the books of course) and the other third to her opponent. Frank likes the way Paul talks.
The following morning, when Carmen arrives at the gym, Juan is nowhere to be seen. He’s speaking to Frank on the phone. They offered Carmen the fight against Jones, and he accepted. The fight comes with a half a million-dollar purse, win or lose and Juan smiles greedily at his upcoming paycheck. He then tells Carmen about it and she says he’s crazy if he thinks she has a chance. He says that kind of money is life changing for them, they’re talking about American dollars. He says the more time they spend arguing about it, the less time they have to prepare. It’s already a done deal and it’s too late to back out.
Back in Nevada, Paul announces to Jenny that her next opponent is Carmen Zulueta, an amateur World Champion, making her professional debut. She asks him if he’s joking and he says he’s not, he wants her to warm up a little before going back to face stiffer competition. Jenny refuses the fight and Paul reminds her it’s either that or they take her title belts. She wonders what Paul promised Frank to get him to accept that match and he says that’s his business. She says she isn’t happy about this, let that be known.
Carmen goes back home to her husband who made sure to clean the apartment a little. Carmen holds her baby close to her chest and whispers that their life is about to change. Omar wonders what’s that all about and she tells him about her upcoming fight with Jenny Jones. He says she’s insane of accepting that fight, there’s no way she’ll win. She says it won’t matter when she’s going to bring half a million-dollars home, American money too. He looks at her in disbelief. She says she’ll do just fine, and Juan will prepare her well. It’s just a job after all.
In his trademark style, Frank announces Jenny Jones’ next title fight with great fanfare with a press conference at the MGM Grand. The fight is scheduled in 8 weeks and heavily promoted in Jones’ favor. Practically no one has heard about Zulueta. When he’s asked about the glaring skill gap between the two boxers, he praises Jones’ ability, saying it’s hard to find opponents equal to her and never talks about Carmen. Frank is a smooth talker with a lot of charisma, the media takes it well.
A quick, rapid-fire montage shows the two boxers preparing for the fight with their coaches, highlighting the glaring differences in their equipment quality, although both look like quality fighters. Jones seems way stronger and she’s very quick, but Zulueta appears to be even faster, but it doesn’t look like there’s much behind her punches.
Carmen is backstage with Omar. She’s nervous and he convinces her she has a chance. On the other end, Jenny is focused, with her husband by her side. Juan and Paul discuss, with Juan saying Jenny might surprise Jones, so she better be ready. Paul laughs it off and doesn’t even say a word and walks away. Frank talks to the press before the weigh-in, hyping up the fight as Jenny Jones’ great return and a way to showcase her world class ability. He praises Zulueta’s courage and wishes her luck. Jones weigh in and is right on the limit. They weigh Carmen and she’s two pounds lighter. They have the traditional faceoff with Frank smiling in the background. All alone backstage, Omar says to himself that Carmen will get killed out there and Geoff heard it and says he thinks so too.
The following night, the capacity crowd at the MGM Grand cheers in anticipation for the main event of the evening. In her locker room, Zulueta is focused as Juan talks strategy with her. Omar tells his wife that no matter what happens tonight, he’s proud of her. Even if he doesn’t approve of the fight, she’s doing what she thinks is best and if it can help their family then so be it. He says he loves her, and they kiss and they call her out to make her way to the ring. She turns back and tells him she loves him. In the other locker room, Jenny and Paul talk strategy. Geoff is in a luxury box with champagne flowing, he doesn’t look worried at all. The two boxers’ entrance is different. Zulueta channeled her Hispanic heritage and had a colorful entrance, while Jenny was calm and collected and made her look fearsome. Both fighters are examined by the ringside doctor (Bruce McGill). Frank, at ringside, sporting a fur coat and a fedora, cigar in hand, holds his breath as the fight is about to start.
Jenny is aggressive right from the start, but Carmen uses her impressive speed to avoid a combo. She then lands the first punch, a weak jab. As Carmen keeps dodging, Jenny gets frustrated and starts hammering down on Carmen, who’s stuck in the corner. She lands a thunderous right hand that floors Carmen. Frank jumps from his seat and applauds, as Juan and Omar, at ringside yell at Carmen to stand up. She beats the count, and they restart the fight. She’s immediately overmatched by Jones’ power, but she’s saved by the bell. Carmen wobbles before she gets to her corner, while Jenny looks frustrated in her corner, with Paul trying to calm her down. Juan and Omar try to speak to Carmen, but the Dr. Dean wants to check up on Carmen. He judges her able to continue. Before they’re able to speak to her, the next round starts. Carmen almost loses her balance as she gets up and Omar gives Juan a worrying look, saying it looks there’s nothing behind her eyes, but Juan says the doctor cleared her.
The second round starts with Jenny leaving distance between her and Carmen. Zulueta doesn’t look confident and the flashes of elite speed she showed earlier are nowhere to be found. Paul gets impatient in the corner, which makes Jenny come forward and throw a combination at Carmen that ends with a big blow to the ribs. Omar wants to throw in the towel, but Juan refuses, saying she can still surprise people, you saw how Jones got frustrated in the first round. Jones lands a big right hand to the side of Carmen’s head, and she falls on the ground. They scream at her to beat the count, but Carmen doesn’t move. The cheers in the arena fade a little, the ten count is over and Carmen hasn’t moved. Juan, Omar, and Dr. Dean rush by her side, while Frank gives the title belts back to Jones. Geoff is still celebrating in the box, proud of his wife. The celebrations are cut short once Dr. Dean calls for a stretcher, Carmen is unconscious and unresponsive.
Omar seems disconnected. Juan is next to him, saying Carmen will get over it, she’ll wake up, she’s a fighter, but he doesn’t hear anything. Carmen is laying in her hospital bed, motionless. Omar leaves the room with tears in his eyes. Juan follows him, saying he should stay and pray by her side, but Omar isn’t having any of it. He loses it at Juan, saying it’s all his fault, he forced her to fight, and she wasn’t ready. Juan grabs him by the shoulders and asks him to think about the money, but Omar shoves him, saying he doesn’t care about the money if Carmen isn’t around. He asks Juan to leave and not come back, he’s holding him responsible for what happened. Juan looks at him and grants him his wish, asking him to send his paycheck once he gets the money. Omar gets back in the room and cries, kneeling besides his wife.
It’s been a day since Jenny won the match and she’s relaxing at home, watching TV. Her husband Geoff gives her a champagne flute, saying they should celebrate her return to form, but Jenny declines. He says it’s not her fault and she must get over it. He says his phone hasn’t stopped ringing; everyone wants to interview her. She says she has nothing to say, absorbed by the sports broadcast shown on TV. Geoff gets upset asking her to stop watching it and he turns off the TV, but she turns it back on and tells him to get lost, they’re talking about Carmen on TV, and she wants to know what’s going on.
Frank is holding a press conference with Dr. Dean. He left the showmanship on the doorstep, opting for a more sober look today. He isn’t here to sell tickets, but to defend himself. He says that he knew Carmen wasn’t on Jenny’s level, but these kinds of fights happen all the time on fight cards, just not in the main event. They call people like Carmen tomato cans. They’re here to get paid, get knocked down and go back home. Most make a career out of it; it’s been that way since boxing was invented. Dr. Dean is also there to defend himself. Thrown into the spotlight after he allowed Carmen to continue to fight, he defends his decision, saying she passed all the tests the Commission requires him to perform. He’s had a spotless record since employed by the Nevada Athletic Commission and still has their full support. He denies the rumors that he’s been fired and keeps on repeating that he did nothing wrong and what happens is just bad luck and a consequence of the sport. Jenny decides to go the sleep, joining Geoff in bed. She’s about to swallow sleeping pills she got from her nightstand when Geoff notices it. He forces her to spit them out, saying he won’t have her get addicted to these again and Jenny says she can’t sleep anymore. Geoff tells her to grow up a bit and get over it, as an adult does and Jenny leaves, saying she’s sleeping on the couch tonight.
The following morning, Jenny is laying on the couch watching the news again. The sportscaster is interviewing Juan, in an exclusive interview, who has news on Carmen’s condition. They join him live from his Las Vegas hotel room. He says he doesn’t regret booking the fight, rejecting Frank’s claim that Carmen was just a tomato can for Jenny, saying her protégé had some real skills and he believed in her chances. Everyone has seen Rocky, miracles are possible. He’s then asked about Carmen’s condition, and he says that she’s having moments of consciousness and he spoke to her yesterday and they’re enthusiastic about her recovery. From what he’s heard, she could go back home as soon as next week. Jenny turns off the television and heads upstairs. Geoff sits at the dinner table, once again, refusing an interview on Jenny’s behalf. He puts his phone down and he sees his wife heading out and before he has the chance to ask her where she’s going, she’s already out.
It turns out Jenny went to the hospital, hoping to see Carmen. Omar, still by his wife’s side sees her and asks her what she’s doing her. She says she’s devastated, and she came to apologize to Carmen personally. She didn’t agree to this fight either, it was imposed. Omar says he’ll be the first one to speak to Carmen if she ever wakes up and Jenny reveals to Omar everything Juan as said on television, and she finds out it was all a lie. Omar starts to threaten Juan. Jenny tries to calm him down, saying she’ll give them all her fight purse, that’s the least they can do. Omar says no money will bring his wife back and he starts to cry. Jenny, embarrassed by what she just done, takes one last look at Carmen and leaves. When she enters her car, Jenny cries.
Jenny is in the ring with her trainer Paul in a different setting and she struggles to hit with power, as if she’s worried, she’ll hurt him. Paul reminds her that this was an accident and none of it is her fault, so she can give it all. She says she knows, but she isn’t feeling well today. Paul then ends the training only and tells her to get ready. Jenny enters a hotel room and puts on a black dress and a pair of high heels. Her husband Geoff asks her if she’s ready and they leave.
They get to a church and Geoff asks her if she’s really paying for everything. He reminds her that they needed the money, but she says it’s the least they could do. They’re about to enter the church when they see Omar with his infant son. He looks devastated and angry. Carmen died and never woke. She died without being able to talk to her husband one last time. Jenny tries to go speak to him, but as she gets face to face with her, Omar sees Juan arrive and he starts screaming at him that he doesn’t want to see him there. Juan argues that he’s known her for longer than Omar did, and he deserves to be there, she’d want him there too. He says that it’s all his fault and the family doesn’t want him there. He decides not a make a fuss and offers his condolences to Omar before leaving. Jenny wants to go talk to Omar now, but he’s crying a lot and Geoff tells her to let it go.
Back at the hotel, Geoff says it was a nice ceremony, but she must be careful with their money now. Jenny wants to know what he means by that, and he says her injury treatments weren’t cheap, they pay Paul a lot of money and their lifestyle isn’t cheap. She asks him if they’re poor and he says that the money she gave Omar would’ve helped them. Was it worth it? Omar isn’t using the money to help his child; it paid the funeral and he’s suing Juan and the promotion. She’s healthy now, she needs to fight, or else they’ll be in the red soon. She tells to call Paul to set up a fight.
A sportscast announces Jenny’s next fight, against a legitimate contender this time. The sportscast now covers Omar’s lawsuit against Frank, Dr. Dean and Juan. They interview experts who say the lawsuit will be very hard to win. Jenny has heard enough and changes the channel. Geoff says it’s a shame he threw away all his money in legal fees, he could’ve had a nice life and he tells her to go to sleep, she’s training tomorrow. That night, she dreams of the night she knocked out Carmen, which awakens her, all sweaty. She goes to the bathroom and swallows sleeping pills she hid from her husband.
The next day, Jenny arrives at the training facility and meets Paul, who’s ready for sparing. Jenny is still sleepy and tells him to wait for her. In the locker room, she downs a can of energy drink and hits herself in the face a couple of times to get herself sharp and ready. She then starts sparring with Paul and hits a flurry of punches. As the last one lands, it takes us to Jenny’s fight. Geoff is in the luxury box screaming at his wife to punch harder. Paul is also pressing her. Every time Jenny has an opening, she lands a weak punch, always reminded of the time she knocked down Carmen. Frank sits in the audience with a cigar with a puzzled look. He stands up as Jenny looks like she’s in trouble. Jenny’s opponent took advantage and had her in the corner. She hits a series of punches that floors Jenny. Geoff is worried, as his Paul, as the referee starts the count. Jenny looks like she’s going to fight back and she remembers Carmen in her hospital bed, with Omar crying by her side. She’s up on her forearms now when she thinks about that moment again, but this time, she’s in the hospital bed with Geoff by her side. She then falls back down on the floor and everyone looks shocked. Jenny Jones has just lost her first professional fight.
As the other team celebrates and Geoff is seen rushing down, Jenny gets back to her feet. Paul rushes to her aid and asks her what happened, and she says she’s quitting, retiring. He tells her she can’t do that to them, and she says she’s made her decision. He tells her she’s going to regret it, but she’s already next to Frank for the interview, where she announces to the world that she’s retiring from professional boxing.
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