Dir. Charles S Dutton , 2004, USA , 111 mins
Cast: Meg Ryan, Omar Epps, Charles S Dutton, Tony Shalhoub, Tim Daly, Joe Cortese "She gave the boxing world the one-two punch they never saw coming" Boxing is a game of hard knocks not for the feint hearted, and Jackie Kallin is a real-life tough cookie. She has earned the title of "The First Lady of Boxing", and, in a male dominated sport, that is no mean feat! Kallin was a journalist, more used to interviewing Elvis and Sinatra to wrapping fists and tying gloves. Then she became a sports reporter and fell in love with boxing. So much so that she became a manager, helping the likes of Thomas "the Hit-Man" Hearns and James "Lights Out" Toney to World Championships. Against The Ropes is a fictionalised drama inspired by this remarkable woman, who dares to play in the male dominated fight game and win. Jackie (Ryan) grew up skipping in her father's gym, whilst he trained her uncle to become a champion boxer. Now, aged 36, she acts as a PA to the manager of Cleveland 's premier boxing venue, the Coliseum. Her boss, Irvine Abel (Cortese) knows she runs the place, and so does everyone else. One evening she ends up in a verbal sparring match with Midwest boxing kingpin, Sam LaRocca (Shalhoub). She tells him she knows more about boxing than he does, so he sells her washed up boxer, Devon, for $1 and tells her to prove it. Devon turns out to be a crack-smoking loser, and she fears her career as a boxing manager is over before it has started. However, when she sees Devon attacked and beaten up for bringing drugs into the estate he lives on by Luther Shaw (Epps), she realises that she has found a champ in waiting. Recruiting veteran trainer Felix Reynolds (Dutton), they embark on a journey that changes Luther from jail-bound punk into a streamlined prize-fighter, and turns Jackie into a successful manager. Against The Ropes has all the attributes of a really great story. Kallin is trying to succeed in a man's world. She is a beautiful, thirty-something Jewish girl from the suburbs, whilst her partner in this journey is a handsome black-man from the streets. They both crave success, fame and fortune, and yet their fears, frailties and the intoxication of this fame nearly costs them everything that made them a success in the first place. It is also about boxing, the toughest of sports. So the training, blood, sweat and tears adds an extra edge to the conflict and jeopardy in the story. However, it is all a bit of a disappointment. Whilst the performances are good, the movie on the whole is a loser on points. Ryan plays Kallin with a great energy and toughness we seldom see in her performances. Working with Jane Campion ( In the Cut ) has invigorated her acting, and Omar Epps certainly looks the part as her hungry protégé. The supporting cast also drag the film off the canvas. Tony Shalhoub is excellent as sleazy promoter Sam LaRocca, as is Tim Daly as local reporter, and potential love interest, Gavin. The film falls down on two scores however. The boxing scenes are more Rocky than Raging Bull , which is no surprise, as Epps had only four weeks of training. While the punches looked real enough, the technique of a champion boxer is obviously exposed, heightened by the fact that Epps was allowed to improvise too much. Dutton's direction must take much of the blame for this, and it is a surprise considering he was a boxer in his youth. As disappointing was the lack of depth the actors were allowed to pursue in their characters. The dialogue makes them came across as caricatures rather than real people. The sympathy and bond that is felt in films like Jerry Maguire , is sadly missing. The opportunity to show how difficult it is to succeed in such a closed world and highlight the racial tensions that would have existed in the relationships is sadly wasted. Jackie Kallin's is a remarkable story - one that deserves better than this bout delivers. Mark Arnold |
