There was a time -- oh, around 1991-1997 -- when Wesley Snipes was one of my very favorite actors. But then he began to get typecast -- his own doing -- into martial arts-related films. He forgot that acting was about...acting. And my esteem for him dwindled...as it seemed to do for pretty much everyone. And this movie is a good example of Snipes not having to act. What he did have to do here was box, and one of the highlights of the film (yes, there are some) is that the boxing was reasonably realistic (and I say that as a person who watches a fair amount of boxing). In fact, I kept wondering how many of those "thrown punches" actually landed at least a glancing blow. The cameraman did a great job filming the boxing scenes. But, as good as the boxing appeared, I still go to a movie to watch acting...and there wasn't much of that here. So, for me, what was the point? The story is okay. A Mike Tyson-like boxer who goes to prison and fights the prison favorite. Ving Rhames actually does the better acting here, and does fine with the boxing, too.
Peter Falk has a role as a con who is involved in the gambling side of boxing in the pen; it was meant to be gritty, but comes off as cliché-ish. I always enjoyed seeing Jon Seda on screen, and never quite understood why his big screen acting didn't catch on more.
If you wanna watch 2 guys pretend they are boxing, then this is a good film for you. If you wanna watch some good acting, look elsewhere. Okay for a viewing...once.
Peter Falk has a role as a con who is involved in the gambling side of boxing in the pen; it was meant to be gritty, but comes off as cliché-ish. I always enjoyed seeing Jon Seda on screen, and never quite understood why his big screen acting didn't catch on more.
If you wanna watch 2 guys pretend they are boxing, then this is a good film for you. If you wanna watch some good acting, look elsewhere. Okay for a viewing...once.