Crying Fist

80%

An emotionally affecting but rather meandering story of two men of different social backgrounds with the selfsame problem. One is a criminal who learns boxing in jail; the other a former boxer down on his luck. That they both meet at the end of the film is as inevitable as it is ultimately life affirming.

The movie's sole problem is its excessive length for its single premise. There is just not enough that can be said that could not have been said in less time. And a movie about the self respect and self discipline required of any sport that is not disciplined itself fails to complement its own premise; thereby partly contradicting it.

However, having said that, the performances of the two principals – CHOI Min sik & RYOO Seung beom - are second to none. They completely inhabit their respective roles and practically force us to want to know how they end up.

The repentance theme is well grounded in reality; the boxing match itself grueling; and, the emotional payoff well worth the longeurs.


Article copyright © 2009 Frank TALKER. Permission granted to reproduce and distribute it in any format; provided that mention of the author’s Weblog (http://franktalker5.blogspot.com/) is included: E-mail notification requested. All other rights reserved. Frank TALKER is also the author of Sweaty Socks: A Treatise on the Inevitability of Toe Jam in Hot Weather (East Cheam Press: Groper Books, 1997) and is University of Bullshit Professor Emeritus of Madeupology.