Gorgeously 70s, everything from the film grain to the fashion. A really phenomenal fighting film, it was incredibly raw and very emotional, showcasing two different fighters on polar opposite ends of their careers. The fighting in this film is exhilarating and very real, a wonderful combination of static shots and handheld shots are used to give a very contrasting but thoughtful portrayal of the fights. I loved the whole stylish grittiness that enveloped the film, both the story and the visual aspects were beautifully textured, and the atmosphere was gorgeously visceral. The meandering existence of the older fighter, Billy Tully (played by Stacy Keach), was absolutely fantastic; his life on screen just wandered around his physical/mental prime and the idea of returning to the ring, never getting anywhere and actually ending up worse than at the start of the feature. Stacy Keach’s performance was magnificent, it was filled with powerful emotion and a deep sense of despair that just depressed the film to quite a demoralising level of sadness. The naive but promising dreams of the younger fighter, Ernie Munger (played by a young Jeff Bridges), were perfectly contrasting but reminiscent of the older fighters bleak life; Ernie was convinced by Tully to pursue a boxing career, Ernie starts to grow into the sport but is discouraged by multiple losses and ends up getting married. Ernie comes back to the ring and finds Tully lost and homeless, they grab some coffee in a great end scene, which really reflects the similar circumstances both these characters have and will be in.
Gorgeously 70s, everything from the film grain to the fashion. A really phenomenal fighting film, it was incredibly raw and very emotional, showcasing two different fighters on polar opposite ends of their careers. The fighting in this film is exhilarating and very real, a wonderful combination of static shots and handheld shots are used to give a very contrasting but thoughtful portrayal of the fights. I loved the whole stylish grittiness that enveloped the film, both the story and the visual aspects were beautifully textured, and the atmosphere was gorgeously visceral. The meandering existence of the older fighter, Billy Tully (played by Stacy Keach), was absolutely fantastic; his life on screen just wandered around his physical/mental prime and the idea of returning to the ring, never getting anywhere and actually ending up worse than at the start of the feature. Stacy Keach’s performance was magnificent, it was filled with powerful emotion and a deep sense of despair that just depressed the film to quite a demoralising level of sadness. The naive but promising dreams of the younger fighter, Ernie Munger (played by a young Jeff Bridges), were perfectly contrasting but reminiscent of the older fighters bleak life; Ernie was convinced by Tully to pursue a boxing career, Ernie starts to grow into the sport but is discouraged by multiple losses and ends up getting married. Ernie comes back to the ring and finds Tully lost and homeless, they grab some coffee in a great end scene, which really reflects the similar circumstances both these characters have and will be in.
