film-making by the numbers

Rating: 1/10 (5 June 2005)

There's currently quite a bit of apprehension in Hollywood regarding box office numbers, and the production of films like these doesn't reassure the marketing teams out there. When the preview first showed up a few months ago, I was underwhelmed by the fact that I could almost see the strings being pulled, the music cued in, and the fingers pointing to what we were supposed to react. I was hoping that those warning signals would be dispelled by the actual film. Let's just say that a train wreck wouldn't be an appropriate comparison to "Cinderella Man"... at least there would be something real and moving in the disaster.
There are problems when: 1) The art direction overwhelms the story. 2) The leading actress has only expression throughout the film. 3) There are several shots of children while the big event is going on. 4) The camera spends more time away from the actual action in the ring. 5) One starts rooting for the "evil" contender. 6) Tributes to other films start popping all over the big dramatic scenes. For a while I thought I saw a shot of Robert DeNiro in color doing his "Raging Bull" close-up in a couple of the fights. 7) The pacing drags only to be broken by corny jokes... "turtles" anyone? 8) There is no suspense. 9) Transitions are at best muddled. 10) The film feels longer than the three extended versions of the LOTR put together.
Too bad... I expected better.