Since "Girlfight" was directed by Karyn Kusama of "Jennifer Body" fame (not quite cult status, but it is getting there), perhaps.
I may queue up "Aeon Flux" first to see what kind of quality range she has. Also, "Flux" has a commentary track by star Charlize Theron, and I need the chance to hear how she polishes that turd. It will be back in the Best Buy $3.99 bin at some point.
Ever since "Bloodsport", I have been a fan of the concept of pit/prizefighting pictures. The problem, with the exception of "Diggstown", "Mortal Kombat" and "Rocky V" (You do not like it because it is not as tacky as III and IV), there have been very few good ones since.
I am a/the fan of a few. "Heatseeker" is a script I would like to remake. "Lionheart" led to a few tears before was medicated for depression, but I cannot say either of these were good. With this lack of good features, I have been skeptical about buying into the recent (2009) batch like: "Never Back Down", "Red Belt", "Fighting" and why does Michael Jai White still land starring roles (This review's first draft was written before I saw "Black Dynamite", so my apologies). My lack of enthusiasm centers around these being inspired by the least scientific sport around, Mixed Martial Arts.
Fortunately for the genre, I am a feminist and a fan of gimmicks, and I have the patience to give B-Movies a chance (Could you please reciprocate this by enquiring about my treatment for "Main Event of the Dead" a zom-com centered around pro wrestling? Drop me an email at russthebus07@gmail.com.). Taking all of these qualities in to account, the female version of these films, "Fight Night" (aka "Rigged") will fill this void until Rose McGowan fucks up "Red Sonja".
Michael Dublin is a manager on the underground boxing scene who is looking for the score that will set him for life. The only problem is that most fighters have too much pride to take a dive when it is called for. What Dublin needs is a fighter who will win, but no one would be in their right mind to bet on them.
After another hustle goes south, Dublin is rescued by an irritable homeless bad ass, Kathy Parker, who cannot stand the commotion interfering with her vagrancy. She has a chip on her shoulder about being shunned by society, and she will take on any man or woman to get retribution. As long as the politics of illegal prizefighting do not interfere, the two should make a mint with their reverse-rigging scheme and, in turn, be able to conquer the demons that put them into this spot to begin with.
 |
The premise of "Fight Night" is the only thing spectacular about the film. Fortunately for the viewer, the relationship between the protagonists allows us to ignore the faults to enjoy the film.
There is nothing about the script that is clever, which can save subpar action flicks, but the narrative is easy to follow and offers us two great characters whose motivation may only be understood by underdogs and outcasts. Since that is the target audience, the script should work.
"Fight Night's" actors allow for the to work. Chad Ortis (Dublin) and Rebecca Nuenswander (Parker) make the characters feel very real. They must maintain a static demeanor as the events unfold in the story, and can only be there for each other if everything works out. The viewer eventually start cheering for their success as friends more than their success in the ring.
Caring about what happens outside of the ropes distracts the viewer from the poorly filmed action. This is not "The Wrestler" where a documentarian appearance is needed. The action is realistic, and to catch real violence, we have to see it from every angle. What makes the fights worthwhile is that they follow the restrictions of reality, so the audience cannot shout "bullshit" at the screen, and they maybe on edge because they do not get to see much of the action.
"Fight Night" is a refreshing twist on the prizefighting movie. The best twist being the focus on developing realistic characters instead of focusing of the violence or the scam elements of the underground fighting world.
No comments:
Post a Comment