Thematic literature enters the ring.
Presentation:
The boxing film is based off of one of the greatest boxing novels, but does it capture the same greatness? What the film does do well is capture the essence of the themes it portrays. The film really presents itself like a film and literature, focusing on character development with some decent boxing sprinkled in. This is nothing like Raging Bull, it’s primarily an anti-sports drama just like The Smashing Machine. However, I can’t say I prefer this one that much over the modern one despite being extremely similar. John Huston’s version is significantly darker though does have more momentum afforded by Conrad Hall’s straightforward cinematography, which doesn’t skip a beat throughout the entire 90 minute picture.
Analysis:
The film covers desperation, hope, ambition and failure. The stagnation in this film is so realistically bleak that it is like a hard look in the mirror. Tyrrell does a fantastic job at portraying one of the most realistically hysterical woman I've seen in memory, she outclasses the lead.
Conclusion:
I have a feeling modern audiences will be disappointed by this film, perhaps even more so than The Smashing Machine. It’s quite depressing in American literary fashion, which might make it more appreciated by seasoned cinephiles. Although I as well as many men can probably relate to the themes, I finished feeling unfulfilled and not in the way the film was designed to be. Maybe I wasn’t in the right mood, maybe I’m getting tired of depressing stories, or maybe I needed a book club after this to really get the most out of it.
Recommendations
How a coin toss changed cinema.