It’s easy to dismiss this by-the-books action film Fighting but then you’ll miss one of the more fun and entertaining films of the year. Starring Channing Tatum as Shawn MacArthur, a down on his luck street urchin, just trying to survive from day to day. When Shawn gets into a street brawl with several thugs a street hustler by the name of Harvey Bourden (Terrence Howard) sees potential in the young man.
Harvey’s idea of potential though is underground street fighting, which he has connections to. He sees in Shawn the opportunity to make some money and get back on top after being disgraced many years ago (since everyone seems to look down on him). After several lucky wins on the underground circuit, Shawn has the opportunity not only to make a lot of money but to redeem himself when he must fight an old acquaintance in his final battle.
This film is very much in the vein of the Cuba Gooding Jr. & James Marshall Gladiator (1992) and like that film the fun of the film is watching at times real and brutal fights. This is far different from the over choreographed Jason Statham films and the over reliance of CGI in the more recent X-Men Origins: Wolverine, which is why the film is such a pleasure to watch.
One of the worst things about most Hollywood films of today is that they feel over-produced and you never feel like the characters are ever in any real danger. This is not the case here as Shawn barely makes it out of his fights winning some simply by luck. Street fighting hurts and you feel bones crack in this film. Writers Robert Munic and Dito Montiel (who also directs) do an excellent job with the film in terms of presenting a gritty look at the under belly of the city. The story itself may be simple and straight forward but life for these characters is anything but.
Harvey’s idea of potential though is underground street fighting, which he has connections to. He sees in Shawn the opportunity to make some money and get back on top after being disgraced many years ago (since everyone seems to look down on him). After several lucky wins on the underground circuit, Shawn has the opportunity not only to make a lot of money but to redeem himself when he must fight an old acquaintance in his final battle.
This film is very much in the vein of the Cuba Gooding Jr. & James Marshall Gladiator (1992) and like that film the fun of the film is watching at times real and brutal fights. This is far different from the over choreographed Jason Statham films and the over reliance of CGI in the more recent X-Men Origins: Wolverine, which is why the film is such a pleasure to watch.
One of the worst things about most Hollywood films of today is that they feel over-produced and you never feel like the characters are ever in any real danger. This is not the case here as Shawn barely makes it out of his fights winning some simply by luck. Street fighting hurts and you feel bones crack in this film. Writers Robert Munic and Dito Montiel (who also directs) do an excellent job with the film in terms of presenting a gritty look at the under belly of the city. The story itself may be simple and straight forward but life for these characters is anything but.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment