RESURRECTING THE CHAMP

RESURRECTING THE CHAMP - 2007

RATED - PG-13 for boxing violence (in and out of the ring) and brief language.

RATINGS - 17 Amazon (4/5), 85,188 Netflix (3.5/5), Roger Ebert (3/4), 4,973 IMDB (7.1/10).

STARRING - Samuel Jackson, Josh Hartnett, Alan Alda, Kathryn Morris.

THEMES - Forgiveness, redemption, role model, ambition.

STORY - Based on a true story, Eric Kernan (Hartnett) is the son of a famous boxing broadcaster and is trying to get his career as a sports reporter, assigned to the boxing beat with the Denver daily paper, off the ground. His editor (Alda) is always on him about being lazy and sloppy. He is also trying to reunite with his son and wife, from whom he is separated. His wife (Morris) is a star journalist at the same paper. He literally falls into a career changing story about an ex-boxing great (Jackson), now homeless, an alcoholic and living on the street. The story propels him to the top of his career overnight. The rest of the story centers on some disturbing things he learns about the 'Champ' and ultimately about himself. Jackson is superb in his role as the 'Champ'. Hartnett could have been better but the overall performances and the story make this an entertaining and thought provoking film. For some reason, many of the best movies about human nature and ambition and greed are boxing stories. Add this to your list as one worth watching. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 11/29/2008.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, ROGER EBERT, TRAILER