The Boxer

• Cat.no: PLFEB 37661
• Cert: 15
• Running time: 109 minutes
• Sides: 2 (CLV)
• Year: 1997
• Pressing: 1998
• Chapters: 33 (16/16+1)
• Sound: Dolby Surround
• Widescreen: 1.85:1
• Price: £14.99
• Extras : Original Theatrical Trailer, plus Trailers for “Mercury Rising” and “Dante’s Peak”
  

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  Director:

  Jim Sheridan

  (My Left Foot, In The Name Of The Father)

Producers:

Screenplay

Music:

Cast:

Danny Flynn: Daniel Day-Lewis (The Bounty, The Crucible, In The Name of the Father, Last of the Mohicans, My Left Foot, Room With a View, The Unbearable Lightness of Being)
Maggie: Emily Watson (Breaking The Waves, The Mill On The Floss)
Ike Weir: Ken Stott (Fever Pitch, TV: “Rhodes”)
Harry: Gerard McSorley
Joe Hamill: Brian Cox (Chain Reaction, Desperate Measures, Hidden Agenda, Kiss The Girls, Iron Will, The Long Kiss Goodnight, Manhunter, Rob Roy, TV: “Inspector Morse”, “Sharpe”)
Matt McGuire: Kenneth Cranham (Hellbound: Hellraiser 2, Prospero’s Books, Tale Of A Vampire, TV: “Chimera”, “Inspector Morse”, “Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit”, “Young Indiana Jones Chronicles”)
Liam: Ciaran Fitzgerald (Into The West, TV: “Young Person’s Guide To Becoming A Rock Star”)

The Boxerfeatures Daniel Day-Lewis and Emily Watsonas star-crossed lovers torn between unquestioning loyalty to the ties oftradition and the passion they share in this latest film from JimSheridan.

When Danny Flynn returns to his Belfast neighbourhood after 14 years in prison,all he wants is to find peace, resume his career and reclaim the love of thewoman who has remained etched in his mind. As they slowly embrace thepossibilities of renewed romance, they realise cultural taboos stand in the wayamd fighting for love could cost them their lives.

However, this soon turns into another bog-standard film about the IRA. Dannygets involved with semtex while resuming his boxing career (the boxingconsultant was Barry McGuigan) which leads to him getting shot at.Meanwhile other people are offed for their involvement, and it doesn’t take toolong before you begin not to care whether Danny and Maggie get to live out theirdays together.

Although the film isn’t much to shout about the picture quality is superb, thecrisp colours bringing a bit of life to the drab scenes of Northern Ireland anddoing justice to the fast-paced boxing scenes. The widescreen image is framed atthe original theatrical ratio of 1.85:1.

For a film such as it is, it’s not a particular surround-sound-fest, but scenesinvolving background music really stand out, not to mention the memorable themetune.

32 chapters punctuate the film which is very good indeed for a 109 minute film.Afterwards comes the original theatrical trailer, plus trailers for twounrelated films, Mercury Rising and Dante’s Peak. However,it has a lot to live up to when compared to the $40 NTSC LD Special Edition,which contains an audio commentary from the director and producer, a making-offeaturette entitled “Fighting For Peace: Inside The Boxer” which includesinterviews with the cast and crew, deleted scenes, production photos andthe trailer.

Overall, if you’re just after the film and aren’t too fussed about a lack ofextras but are concerned about quality, then this release is for you.Personally, if I was in the buying seat I’d be inclined to investigate theNTSC LD Special Edition first before making the final choice.

FILM : *PICTURE QUALITY: *****SOUND QUALITY: ****EXTRAS: **——————————-OVERALL: ***

Review copyright © Dominic Robinson, 1999.