Samuel L. Jackson and Josh Hartnett star in this “coming to grips with who you are” drama. This is not a sports movie. Although sports, precisely professional boxing, serves as an important backdrop to the movie. It is the story of a washed up ex-boxer and a talented but mediocre, passionless sports writer. The two desperate persons meet by divine intervention (there is no such thing as chance) and end up helping each other discover their real selves.
Both men are living a lie. The boxer is an alcoholic living on the streets, pushing a food cart. The sports writer is the son of a famous sportscaster father, who seems to be just getting by on this vast, but untapped, talent. He lives in suburbia as a typical yuppie.
A gang of white thugs are antagonizing and beating up on the black “Champ” played by Samuel L. Jackson when Josh Hartnett’s character, the sports reporter/journalist comes upon them and breaks up the “fight.” The sportswriter gives the boxer some money and later develops a relationship with him when he learns that the boxer was a leading boxing contender who even sparred with Rocky Marciano.
“I am not a bum, I’m homeless,” was one quote of the Champ that stood out to me. He was responding to someone’s comment that he was a bum. That quote showed a spark of self-respect.
The sports writer is depicted as a separated man with visitation rights with his young son, who he continually lies to regarding the sports stars who he tells his son are his close friends. He thinks his son will not respect him without pumping himself up in that way. Josh Hartnett’s portray reminds me of Jim Carrey’s attorney character in the movie Liar, Liar. Although Resurrecting the Champ doesn’t go into the reasons why the couple separated, one could guess the journalist’s wife thought he was an underachiever.
Both men are living a lie. The boxer is an alcoholic living on the streets, pushing a food cart. The sports writer is the son of a famous sportscaster father, who seems to be just getting by on this vast, but untapped, talent. He lives in suburbia as a typical yuppie.
A gang of white thugs are antagonizing and beating up on the black “Champ” played by Samuel L. Jackson when Josh Hartnett’s character, the sports reporter/journalist comes upon them and breaks up the “fight.” The sportswriter gives the boxer some money and later develops a relationship with him when he learns that the boxer was a leading boxing contender who even sparred with Rocky Marciano.
“I am not a bum, I’m homeless,” was one quote of the Champ that stood out to me. He was responding to someone’s comment that he was a bum. That quote showed a spark of self-respect.
The sports writer is depicted as a separated man with visitation rights with his young son, who he continually lies to regarding the sports stars who he tells his son are his close friends. He thinks his son will not respect him without pumping himself up in that way. Josh Hartnett’s portray reminds me of Jim Carrey’s attorney character in the movie Liar, Liar. Although Resurrecting the Champ doesn’t go into the reasons why the couple separated, one could guess the journalist’s wife thought he was an underachiever.
The two men were both lost spiritually and otherwise. The movie doesn’t really address the spiritual lost condition of the men, but shows that reality well. They are also socially lost or not fully in touch with who they are as men and as individuals.
In the end the Champ comes to terms with who he really is, coming to grips with the lie he had been living for years. He does so partly through his interaction with the sports writer. Champ became estranged from his wife and son because he was fighting and living under an assumed name of another fighter who once actually was one of the top contenders to a boxing crown. The family broke up after the family found out that he wasn’t who he pretended to be.
The writer, who is so anxious to write a powerful and moving story, thinks he has it when he encounters a man whom he thought was a major boxing contender. He writes a masterpiece of a story and receives much adulation, but the story turns out to be untrue. He does a turnaround though and admits his errors and “grows up” becoming honest in his dealings with others, and especially in interactions with his son.
This is a very good story and the movie moves quickly. You can see the gradual transformation in the lives of each of the two main characters.
RATING
I would give the movie ****1/2 out of ***** for how it enfolds the agonizing, realistic personal struggle of both of these men and how it affected them as well as others. The movie would be worth purchasing, or at least renting
Loved this movie. Missed it when it was at theatres. Mostly because we didn't know it was playing.
ReplyDeleteThe story was interesting, the characters were well developed and well played. Excellent casting across the board. I was especially impressed with Sam Jackson and the adorable little boy who played Josh Hartnetts son (Dakota Goyo). Agree, one of the best to come out of Hollywood in a very long time.
anon -
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments. A way above average movie.