 There's a whole slew of boxing movies that I've never seen before, simply due to it never really being my thing. In fact, sports movies in general were never really my thing unless I could find some sort of differing qualities that didn't fall under the old formula of "underdog, or underdog team works their way to the final battle and wins". Most of these made for kids would also include the token "pro" among the misfits. I leaned more towards sports movies that told an interesting story disassociated from the sport like 'The Sandlot' where the final showdown involves a giant dog, showing the token "pro" display his skills in other ways.
Now that I've used such a youthful and fun example, this brings me to Scorsese's 'Raging Bull', which is definitely one of the more unique boxing movies I've ever seen. Its use of black and white, and use of years past make it something timeless, and it goes to places one wouldn't really expect. It all opens with, of all things, a comedy routine from former boxing champ Jake LaMotta (Robert De Niro), who has been aged almost unrecognizably. The film then flashes back from 1964 to 1941, where we see him lose his first boxing match to a guy named Jimmy Reeves (Floyd Anderson). He then discusses a potential shot for the middle-weight title with his brother, Joey (Joe Pesci), who has a mafia connection with someone named Salvy Batts (Frank Vincent). Without unfolding the whole plot, the film follows the career and personal life of LaMotta, largely including his brother and his significantly younger spouse, Vickie (Cathy Moriarty) and their relationships. One key thing in this movie is the idea that LaMotta is someone you really neither love nor hate. There are moments in this where you see him as a total piece of crap, but there are others that you can't help but feel for him. Behind a lot of it is a terrible jealous streak that makes him altogether abusive, often taking it out in the ring. A lot of this seems to be about the downfall as well as the uprising, which is something that can be applied to just about any career in the realm of "fame". The film is, indeed, based on the life of a real person. Perhaps the most notable moment in his boxing career was his six-fight rivalry with Sugar Ray Robinson (Johnny Barnes), which is highlighted through the film. De Niro's performance here is probably the best aspect of the movie, often making me laugh (albeit perhaps a bit inappropriately). For example when he yells at his wife for his steak near the beginning, going "BRING IT OVA HEEAAH!" But as I said, he does become a well fleshed-out character where your feelings on him are a bit mixed. It's almost like you want to want to route for him, but his reputation as a bully holds you back. I have said this before, but I definitely have a thing for movies that develop a character who isn't seen as particularly good or bad, but human. I think the movie 'Crash' has always been my favourite example of such a movie, but this certainly does do a good job of it - with everyone, not just our lead. Often viewed as one of Scorsese's best works, I would have to fully agree. This is a fine example of a film that has a generous sprinkling of everything, It does range very well, making you go from feeling apathetic for the character to sympathetic and you sort of do a back and forth with it. This one is a true work of art on Scorsese's part, and I might suggest he hasn't quite done anything like this since. 5/5
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 This movie is one of my favorite things; a movie with a Critic Rating scale on the low side (40%), but an audience rating on the high side (74%). Movies like this are the reason I do what I do here. I review these titles, not as a film school graduate, but as an audience member. I wanted to review movies from a general audience perspective, and it probably shows with how generous I tend to be with some of my ratings. I therefore go against the grain on this one, and hop in there with the audience, because 'Bloodsport' has so much still going for it.
The film centers on American Army Captain, Frank Dux (Jean-Claude Van Damme), who's sensei, Senzo Tanaka (Roy Chiao) trained in the art of Ninjutsu. Tanaka took Dux under his wing, as a child, who broke into Tanaka's house to steal a katana. Tanaka tells Dux that a katana is not to be stolen, but earned through strict training, and such is done, alongside Shingo (Sean Ward), Tanaka's son. Eventually Shingo fights in an illegal underground tournament held in Hong Kong called the Kumite, which kills him, and soon Dux is trained to become a member of the Tanaka clan through a pretty brutal but bad ass training montage. Dux is then invited to fight in the same tournament, and the movie really makes you wonder how they got a movie like 'Street Fighter' so screwed up. His superiors refuse to let him go, so Dux just says "the hell with it" and goes to Hong Kong to fight, anyway. This leads to Criminal Investigation Command officers, Helmer (Norman Burton) and Rawlins (Forest Whitaker) to track him down. Meanwhile, once he gets to Honk Kong, Dux is befriended by a fellow tournament fighter, Ray Jackson (Donald Gibb) and a streetwise guide named Victor Lin (Ken Siu). The pair are lead to the tournament, Dux performs some bad assery to prove he's worthy to fight, and the tournament begins. Soon the attention of Kumite champion, Chong Li (Bolo Yeung) is caught when Dux breaks his record for fastest knock-out - guess who the villain is. As for romantic interest, that's here too, with American journalist, Janice Kent (Leah Ayres), who's investigating the Kumite, which could mean trouble. Anyway, the bottom line is that if you wanna see Jean-Claude Van Damme in a better 'Street Fighter' movie that's more about the tournament than anything else, this is a very good place to turn. Let's face facts, the fighting and bad-assery is why anyone is gonna watch this movie and enjoy it. Things like acting and bad dubbing are to be overlooked, and it's a simple story of vengeance, complete with some gnarly broken bone scenes. With that, there's not a whole lot more to say about 'Bloodsport'. It's an hour and a half of Jean-Claude Van Damme training and fighting, but make no mistake, it's not as dull as that either. There's a generous sense of humor behind it, and there's a charm when we see the friendship between Dux and Ray. It's that same buddy-buddy thing you got with Maverick and Goose from 'Top Gun'. 'Bloodsport' has developed a really generous cult following over the years since its release, and some might even claim this as Van Damme's real breakout performance. Up until this point, he was credited as a movie goer, a spectator, a soldier, a "gay karate man", and finally, Ivan Kraschinsky the Russian in 'No Retreat, No Surrender', which he's known for, but I daresay it doesn't have quite the same strength as 'Bloodsport' as a popular movie. I actually remember peers talking about this movie when I was a kid, and how cool JCVD was. Some would even challenge Schwarzenegger's awesomeness with his. Bear in mind that a LOT of my peers were watching things like gory horror at a super early age. Without this being the suggestion of a dear old friend, I'm not sure I ever would have gotten around to watching it. It was always one of those martial arts movies that for whatever reason I never got super into (which is super weird, considering some of my particular tastes). When you picture your ideal-minded kid when it came to watching violence, I was damn near perfect. I didn't even start getting into horror until I was about 17, so movies like this were just off my radar, growing up. Nowadays, it's really just more interesting to watch as a piece of cinematic history. It was movies like this that prompted American action filmmakers to say "let's get the guy who can do the splits, he's awesome." It's well worth the hour and a half, and my criticisms are so minimal they don't matter. Just sit back and watch the fight. 4/5  As the film opens, we meet a kid named Danny Noonan (Michael O'Keefe). He's a caddy at the Bushwood Country Club, and his thoughts on his future are clouded. He often seeks the guidance of a charming golfer named Ty Webb (Chevy Chase), who he often caddies for.
Danny sees a chance at getting his life together by earning a caddy scholarship from Judge Elihu Smails (Ted Knight), the owner of the Country Club, who has to deal with the obnoxious and eccentirc millionaire, Al Czervik (Rodney Dangerfield). He has interests in purchasing Bushwood, and soon enough, a conflict rises between them. In the meantime, the biggest comic relief of the film comes in a "Bugs Bunny/Elmer Fudd"-like feud between country club groundskeeper, Carl Spackler (Bill Murray) and a gopher, who Smails wants gone from the gold course by any means necessary. It's a whole fantastic cartoon that runs alongside the main plot, which already offers plenty of humour. This film is a great example of peak 1980's humour. Starting with the writers, we have the late Harold Ramis (who also directed), Brian Doyle Murray (the boss from 'Chritsmas Vacation' and Bill Murray's brother), and Douglas Kenney (writer on 'Animal House', and surprisingly enough, the first upcoming episode of 'Marvel's What If...?'). Beyond that, the previously mentioned cast speaks for itself. It's a title that has gone on to become regarded as one of the best comedies of all time. However, I haven't watched it for about two decades, so it was practically new to me again, and I hate to say it, but it felt kinda dated. Don't get the wrong idea, I still had fun here, and had quite a few genuine laughs. But some of the random moments, especially from Dangerfield, are kinda cringe-worthy by today's standards. This is no fault of the movie though, it's just a product of its time. In 1980, this was kinda top of the line when it came to comedy. I particularly enjoy the overall cartoon quality of Bill Murray's character here, along with the gopher. When I say it's like Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd, that's no exaggeration. It's Carl trying to kill this gopher any way he can, and the gopher taunting him the whole way through. It even dances for the credits. Beyond that, Chevy has some good low brow, casual dialogue as only he can deliver, and I meet Dangerfield somewhere in the middle. We're supposed to find him annoying, and I can honestly say I kinda did. But you find him annoying ironically. He's one of those party animals we all know who just has to have a good time, even if it means ruining everyone else's, and you can't help but find the comedy in what he's doing. So,if you're on the lookout for a good movie from the 80's that serves as a prime example of what 80's comedy was largely like, 'Caddyshack' is definitely a very solid title for it. Once again, bear in mind that if you're new to it, it might feel a bit dated. But if you are interested in 80's culture (face it, it's a thing these days), it's probably one of the best titles you can watch for the comedy side of things. I had a few issues, but it's still just a good time, and nothing to take seriously whatsoever. It has big potential to grow on me, and that earns it bonus points. 4/5  This is a Father/Son title that tends to lean a bit more toward the aspects of an overbearing father... who has been convicted of murdering his wife, and therefore the son pretty much hates him with the flaming passion of a thousand "sons" (sorry, that was terrible).
Jake Shuttlesworth (Denzel Washington) is the father in question, who has just been handed a deal from his warden. If he can get his son, Jesus (Ray Allen), to apply to the college the warden wants him to, he can get a reduced sentence. Jesus is the most sought after college basketball prospect across America, so every college wants a piece of him. This makes it not only difficult for Jake (who Jesus already hates) to get him to help out, but even his girlfriend, friends and other family seem to want a piece of his fame. Meanwhile Jesus just wants to weigh his options and go to where he ultimately chooses for himself. Jake also ends up getting a whole side story to himself in which he tries to help out a prostitute named Dakota (Milla Jovovich), and play the whole rescue her from an abusive pimp role. It goes pretty much where one might expect, and is just tied in with the story enough to make it matter. On the other hand, some of the best acting throughout the movie takes place here, so I guess it works out. The story in a nutshell doesn't sound altogether exciting, but the film is still well acted overall, and its still worth checking out if you're into this kind of thing. That said, it's kind of a product of its time, and not exactly a title people run around talking about, hyping it up (at least not around me). It took place during this weird basketball blast off era, from about the mid 90s to the 2000s. Being released in '98, this one showed up very much in the midst of it all. It was talked about with mixed reviews, but mostly positive, based on Denzel's performance. So, if you're looking for something involving a basketball prospect and his estranged father, while also sort of but not really being a bit of a "hood movie", check it out. Despite my few nitpicks, there's still a certain warmth that comes off this movie by the end of it all that's worth sticking around for, and Denzel's acting manages to tip the scales in a good way (as usual). So I'm gonna give this one a 3, but really, it's more like a 3.5. 3/5 |
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