Me and the misses were longing to watch this movie as soon as we saw the preview months ago. Now that we have seen it I wish we had never saw or heard about it and got our hopes up. The movie starts showing lots of potential promise and follows a heartfelt storyline. But things started getting a little shaky right after the middle or so of the movie. WE stuck through it hoping and sure that maybe it would pull itself back together and surprise us with an awesome ending. We have never been so wrong. The ending will leave a sour taste in your mouth and an empty feeling in your stomach. To us it's such a waste of unbelievably talented actors and a descent script that had the potential for an Emmy award if it was rewritten an directed differently. Our opinion is to honestly not even waste your time with this film because most likely you will regret the 2+ hours you spent watching it wondering what creative thing you could of done with your time instead of watching Resurrecting the Champ starring Samuel Jackson & Josh Hartnett. But to each his own and if you did or do find absolute joy with this film we would understand and be happy for you. Have a wonderful movie experience this week and God Bless.
For those of you use to films by Rod Lurie, this movie will take you by surprise; in a very good way. I much enjoy Rod's films, and I did this one as well, but not for the reasons that I normally do. I have grown accustomed to his sharp whit and snappy screenplays as well as the fluidity of the cinematography. Resurrecting the Champ delivers all that, but in so many ways it was better than the Lurie movies I have learned to love. I think it is because Rod puts his heart into this film.
In the technical sense, the film is well directed and edited. The cast is spectacular with solid performances by all; including Alan Alda and Samuel L. Jackson. The characters are very believable and no one actor overshadows another. The film has balance. The movie is well paced and does not confuse the viewer. But what really makes this film excel is that Lurie leaves his comfort zone of the political thriller and really directs a movie that touches all viewers. This was a great risk for Rod, but it paid off because it resulted in a movie that will no doubt become the part of many film libraries.
While this move is set around a newspaper and boxing, this is really a movie about fathers and sons. It embraces the understanding that we are not all perfect and that it is OK not to be. It dwells at the dilemma of what fathers must do when their children find out that they have flaws, and the pressure sons have to live up to the heroics of their fathers. This is the kind of film that you will go and see and then talk about for hours afterwards. I have to wonder if Mr. Lurie is giving both his father and his son a gift with this film. I cannot wait for it to come out in the theaters so that I can take my sons to see it.