A Fighting Man (2014) Reviews

• A win!

  teoalcantara2014-06-21

  I wasn't expecting much, but this came as a pleasant surprise! The editing uses flashbacks in between rounds to tell the motivations that drive the two fighters, revealing their personal dramas little by little. This helps to keep you interested on the movie, and ultimately on the outcome of the fight. It also works because there's no 'villain' on the ring - both characters have good reasons to be on this match, and it's difficult to root just for one of them (though for me Dominic Purcell has a slight edge, if anything for being older).

• Pretty Good

  roliveira832014-06-21

  The movie is all about human life and their stories. I wasn't really expecting what I watched but I really liked it. Unlike an usual movie, it starts with the action. So, you are not really sure what the characters are... I mean, you don't really like or dislike anyone yet even though the stories is already happening. So they keep crossing characters life over and over again in a pretty interesting way. What I really like about fighters movies is that we are all fighters in our life... we fight for our friends, our family, ourself. We need to overcome our challenges, be ready to "take a punch" from life and don't never give up. In the end, life is more about how much you can take and keep going than how hard you can punch. It is just and simple human stories... human life. I understand why not everyone will love this movie, but I had a really good time watching it!

• I wasn't expecting something this good. I really enjoyed this. I actually liked it more then The Fighter. I say A-

  cosmo_tiger2014-06-13

  "The best we can do is to forgive ourselves." Sailor O'Connor (Purcell) is an aging fighter with a past that won't let him go. He is trying to move on when he is approached by a local promoter for one last fight. After agreeing for the biggest payday he's ever had he tells his mother and old trainer, neither of whom is happy about it. His opponent is an up and coming young kid with a past he is also trying to change. Together they fight not only each other but the past they can't forget. As many of you know I am a huge fan of sports movies. Being a lower budget one that not many people have heard of I wasn't expecting too much from this. I'm not sure if that had any effect on my feelings toward this but I really really enjoyed it. Every other boxing movie I have seen tells the story of the characters then ends with the fight. This one switches between the fighting and the story which I really enjoyed. You see some punches then part of the fighters life which segues beautifully into the break in between rounds. That gives extra meaning to the rest period. I could go on and on about this but I'll end by saying I highly recommend this. Overall, not sure if it was because I wasn't expecting something this good but I really enjoyed this. I actually liked it more then The Fighter. I give this an A-.

• The good, the Bad ... and the others

  kosmasp2014-10-01

  It's nice and refreshing to see a movie about two boxers, where you get to see both sides and might not be able to pick a favorite. Of course deciding to start with the fight and then going back in flashbacks, might either be enticing for viewers or appalling. You'll have to make your own mind up about that. Acting-wise you get quite a lot of good people in this. James Caan, Kim Coates, Michael Ironside and Famke Janssen to name a couple. Mostly they don't share the screen together, but you still get the gravitas a movie like this needs. It's nice storytelling, with slowly revealing/uncovering its layers. Not really surprising in the end, but still a nice movie to watch

• low-brow 'Rocky' definitely has its' positive traits

  witster182014-07-02

  "A Fighting Man" will be added to my "B Marathon List" because it's definitely deserving. Not perfect, but deserving. A fine supporting cast helps. From the lady who plays Sailors mother, to James Caan,Famke Jannsen, and Louis Gossett, the entire cast(save one) does an EXCellent job. Unfortunately, the 'one' is Dominic Purcell, who's performance is a bit rigid and uninspiring. His lines all delivered with the same emotionless whisper that really loses the fight against his acting counterparts. The director deserves MAD PROPS here. The film is put together extremely well considering the shoe-string budget. THe fight choreography is strong, the camera work and editing are all above average. The story is pieced together beautifully with many pertinent subplots, all played out perfectly, even some surprises thrown in there. This film needed a new star and a bigger budget, and it could have really been amazing. The film had style in its fonts and its shots, time-jumping, and human elements, but it just couldn't elevate into rarefied air without a better performance from the lead and a little more money for extras and and overall production design. Still, kudos for the effort. THe director gets an asterisk next to his name as someone to keep an eye on. Good "B" movie that is definitely worth your time and money, but oh how this could have been a diamond in the rough instead of a garnet. 70/100 You Might like this if you liked: Streets of GOld(not as good), THe Wrestler(much better), Vision Quest(better), and Win Win(better)... but most of those are pretty strong flicks. Impressed overall. Good sleeper no doubt.