Prizefighter: The Life of Jem Belcher

The greatest boxing film of all time -- of many to choose from -- is Cinderella Man (2005). It is technically perfect, it remains exhilarating no matter how many times you watch it, it is on my IMDb list of great films, and it stars Russell Crowe. This boxing film also stars Russell Crowe. But the similarities end there. This film is an interesting experiment in combining a sports film with an historical biography ... to see how they mix? The result is entertaining, but in many places awkward and imbalanced. The moment the protagonist becomes champion, he immediately chooses a dark path. The viewer is disappointed. The moment the protagonist has a chance at redemption, the scriptwriter (who is also the star!) borrows every trope and trick you have ever seen in a Rocky film, and throws them onscreen. To see what sticks. Another disappointment. The pattern becomes clear. No matter how often Belcher wins, the audience always ends up the loser.