Gabriel Caine (James Woods) has just been released from prison. He meets John Gillon (Bruce Dern) who owns Diggstown--a town full of boxers. He bets Caine that he can't find a man who can beat 10 Diggstown boxers in a row. Caine finds boxer Roy Palmer (Louis Gossett Jr.)--but he's 48 and might be too old to do it.
The details of the plot are a little sketchy--I only saw it once back in 1992. My gym was giving out free passes to it and I figured why not? James Woods is a great actor and, even if the movie sucked, he would be good in it. I saw it with a friend at a small crowded theatre in Boston. It wasn't much to begin with and some characters seem to be there for no reason. I'm still not sure what Heather Graham was doing there (except looking great). But the movie and situations grew on you and, by the time the big boxing event came at the end, the audience was rearing to go. **PLOT SPOILER** It all leads to a GREAT ending which had my audience roaring, applauding and cheering like crazy! This happened well over 10 years ago and I have never forgotten the thrill of that moment. **END SPOILER** Also Woods was great and Dern chewed the scenery again and again and AGAIN. Wait till you see and hear his final prayer before the boxing match begins!
This came out and bombed almost immediately--it's basically a forgotten movie. Still it's worth catching if you see it on TV or at the DVD store. It REALLY comes to life with an audience! I give it a 7.
The details of the plot are a little sketchy--I only saw it once back in 1992. My gym was giving out free passes to it and I figured why not? James Woods is a great actor and, even if the movie sucked, he would be good in it. I saw it with a friend at a small crowded theatre in Boston. It wasn't much to begin with and some characters seem to be there for no reason. I'm still not sure what Heather Graham was doing there (except looking great). But the movie and situations grew on you and, by the time the big boxing event came at the end, the audience was rearing to go. **PLOT SPOILER** It all leads to a GREAT ending which had my audience roaring, applauding and cheering like crazy! This happened well over 10 years ago and I have never forgotten the thrill of that moment. **END SPOILER** Also Woods was great and Dern chewed the scenery again and again and AGAIN. Wait till you see and hear his final prayer before the boxing match begins!
This came out and bombed almost immediately--it's basically a forgotten movie. Still it's worth catching if you see it on TV or at the DVD store. It REALLY comes to life with an audience! I give it a 7.