X
- 1997
- R
- MCA/Universal Pictures
- 1 h 53 m
- 1997
- R
- MCA/Universal Pictures
- 1 h 53 m
Summary Star-crossed lovers (Lewis, Watson) are torn between unquestioning loyalty to the ties of tradition and the passion they share in this film set in 1990s Belfast, torn apart by years of religious conflict and IRA violence. (Universal)
Directed By: Jim Sheridan
Written By: Terry George, Jim Sheridan
- 1997
- R
- MCA/Universal Pictures
- 1 h 53 m
- 1997
- R
- MCA/Universal Pictures
- 1 h 53 m
The Boxer
75
7.6
Where to Watch
Summary Star-crossed lovers (Lewis, Watson) are torn between unquestioning loyalty to the ties of tradition and the passion they share in this film set in 1990s Belfast, torn apart by years of religious conflict and IRA violence. (Universal)
Directed By: Jim Sheridan
Written By: Terry George, Jim Sheridan
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally favorable
Based on 19 Critic Reviews
75
84% Positive
16 Reviews
16 Reviews
16% Mixed
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Generally favorable
Based on 19 Critic Reviews
75
84% Positive
16 Reviews
16 Reviews
16% Mixed
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
It's a tribute to Day-Lewis that he can play a character like Danny -- cautious, withdrawn, inarticulate -- and endow him an eloquence and grace that aren't dependent on language. Without him, The Boxer might still be a powerful tale of loyalty and love, with a core of moral complexity; with Day-Lewis in the lead, it approaches greatness.
Writer-director Jim Sheridan, co-screenwriter Terry George, and Sheridan's favorite actor (and Oscar winner for My Left Foot) Daniel Day-Lewis reunite in The Boxer with a mellower political message that translates, roughly, into ''Can't we all just get along?''
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If you view it passively, as a well-crafted melodrama set in danger among passionate antagonists, The Boxer is rewarding enough. If you attack it intellectually, you see the degree to which it is informed by ideas and realize the power of its argument.
Although it seems to borrow the pattern of the traditional boxing movie, the boxer here is not the usual self-destructive character, but the center of maturity and balance in a community in turmoil.
Intelligently conceived and well- acted, this compact, straightforward drama about two ordinary people caught in the ongoing political crossfire packs enough punch to command audience interest, but won't light up critics or the B.O. to the extent achieved by the team's previous outings, "My Left Foot" and "In the Name of the Father."
There is little chance for the movie's talented stars, Day Lewis and Emily Watson (Breaking the Waves) to establish and develop their characters, beyond their set-piece declarations of love.
Most disappointing is the fact that the movie ends so abruptly that you can't help wondering what the whole story amounts to, moving as it is.
A Love Punch.
The Boxer
Sheridan's sport drama isn't sporty at all. There is definitely hard work in here, but all the guns are aimed towards the aspiration of creating a big wallop of emotional drama that swoops in every political satire in this romantic tale. Now, as you can see, this is a culmination of multiple genre and unfortunately only romance soars above all. The reason being, an amazing lead cast, if Daniel Day Lewis is amiable to the tears of Emily Watson, then so is she to his gut wrenching punches. Combining it, they make one good cinematic couple facing and running away from their past. Fortunately, to cover in all the grounds, the film doesn't just focus on their perspective, the supporting characters too consume the screen time for the justification of their deeds.
Take Brian Cox for instance, his character that never helms charge in the film up till the last act, may seem like your average set up of a pawn-like stereotypical antagonist with money and power in his hand. Another surprising package that keeps giving us is Emily's nuanced performance that gets in on the ring through practical insertions like a fearful mother and a wife and more importantly an adolescent lover that as a past haunts her.
And in the end, it is all for the man himself, Daniel who is there in the ring himself, struggling and resisting his love towards Emily and a dodgy familiar arena that he adores and calls "home". Jim Sheridan, the co-writer and director, is often milking stuff, among this two hour of journey, there is somewhere a good one hour film that needed a better coaching. The Boxer is a hot headed fellow, easily swooned in and boiled up, unfortunately the makers couldn't manipulate it better to make it survive the 12th round.
Report
Production Company
Universal Pictures,
Hell's Kitchen Films,
Hell's Kitchen International
Release Date Dec 31, 1997
Duration 1 h 53 m
Rating R
Tagline Love is always worth fighting for.
Website
http://www.theboxer.com/
Awards
Golden Globes, USA
• 3 Nominations
Berlin International Film Festival
• 1 Win & 2 Nominations
Goya Awards
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
