A mediocre film

Rating: 6/10 (28 February 2007)

I really don't get how this movie got such a high score. I am a huge fan of Scorsese and De Niro, but this movie is definitely not the best sports movie. It's not horrible, it's just mediocre.
The boxing is really horrible. From a serious film like that I was expecting something different than just another Rocky-style fighting sequences. I mean don't they know that there's a thing called "defence". I know that boxing isn't what this movie is about, but it's still a pretty big part of it, and it surely does add to the believability.
And the thing that this movie is supposed to be about-didn't work for me either. Why would I feel sorry for a guy who destroys himself? He has a title-he throws it away. Has a brother who loves him-destroys that relationship. Has a loving wife-he beats her up and drives her to divorce. Yea he has a nice side, but how can you feel sorry for a person who slaps around his wife for no reason? In a word, a so-so movie. 5 out of 10.