True events are being brought to the screen in the form of Rob Lurie’s Resurrecting the Champ.
Based on a 1997 article of the same name the movie is about a young ambitious sports writer named Erik Kernan (played by Josh Hartnett), living in the considerable shadow of his famous journalist father. Erik literally stumbles onto what could be a career-making story in the back alleys of Denver.
He meets a charismatic indigent who calls himself “The Champ” (Samuel L. Jackson), who tells stories of how he was almost the greatest boxer but fate had other plans for him. Kernan starts to piece together the fragments of The Champ’s story and thinks he’s discovered “Battling” Bob Satterfield, who had been listed as one of Ring Magazine’s 100 greatest punchers and was now living out of a shopping cart, fending of drunken frat boys to survive. This could be the young writer’s chance to prove to everyone: his estranged wife (Kathryn Morris), his demanding editor (Alan Alda) and his son that his is every bit the great writer and man his father was.
While this movie is about a boxer it’s not really about boxing. It’s more about how people can get taken for a ride when they are blinded to everything but their own ambition. Kernan’s folly is a terrific character study that harkens back to some of the great pictures of the 40’s and 50’s.
The other major theme is about fathers, sons and the hold they have over one another. It’s like a boxing match of another kind; each circling, raising and lowering their guard at opportune moments in an attempt to win respect from the other man. Erik’s life is froth with father figures in addition to his own. And he has to defend his claim to the title with each one. Some bouts he loses, some he wins (though not spectacularly).
Thoughtful performances drive this narrative. Fans of Samuel Jackson are in for a real treat. His portrayal of The Champ is bittersweet, heart wrenching and heart felt. I never really thought one way or the other about Josh Harnett but I have to say he brings it as the morally struggling Kernan. The ensemble cast is remarkable. You’ve got some serious hard hitters here: Alan Alda, “Cold Case” lead Kathryn Morris, desperate housewife Teri Hatcher (deliciously amoral as a network executive), David Paymer and Peter Coyote. Director Lurie drew from these actors some textured and complex performances.
This is the sort of movie that garners Oscar talk, especially for Jackson. That makes its release date a little worrying. There is a real danger of getting lost in the late summer shuffle of juvenile comedies and action films. Is there an audience out there for a smart, character driven drama? I sincerely hope so since I feel it is a movie worth seeing.
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