Fans know that boxing means blood, sweat and tears and pushing yourself harder than ever. The best boxing films know how to explore the personal and professional life of a boxer, a part of the reason why the genre does so well. Cinema loves stories about the struggle to succeed and underdogs rising to the top. Orthodox, out May 16th on DVD and digital platforms, gives a fresh take on the genre, and shines a light on a young boy bullied for his Jewish faith. He takes up the sport as self-defence, which alienates him from his religious community. To celebrate the release, we’ve rounded up some of the best boxing films to hit the big screen…
Do you agree with this list? Did we miss any film out? Let us know in the comments.
Orthodox (2016)
When Benjamin, a
young Orthodox Jewish boy (played as an adult by Stephen Graham),
takes up boxing for self-defence after years of bullying over his
faith, he begins to become alienated from his devoutly religious
community – and lands himself in prison. Upon his release years
later, Benjamin is desperate to start afresh and provide for the ones
he loves. However, it isn’t long before his previous involvement
with a tangled web of criminal activity catches up with him and
threatens to destroy his new way of life.
Rocky (1976)
It wouldn’t be
possible to make a list of boxing films with including Rocky; it’s
the ultimate underdog story built for both fans and non-fans of the
sport. Sylvester Stallone, in his most iconic role, stars as Rocky
Balboa, a small time, working-class club boxer who gets a shot at
competing in the world heavyweight championship. As we follow his
story, we are taken on an intimate look at what it takes to make it
as a professional boxer. The film turned Stallone into a movie star
and a further six films in the long-running franchise.
Raging Bull
(1980)
In what is often
considered master filmmaker Martin Scorsese’s greatest work, Raging
Bull stars Robert De Niro as Jake LaMotta, a middleweight boxer whose
violent energy and obsessive rage destroys his relationship with his
wife and family. Scorsese brilliantly captures Jake’s inner demons,
exploring how his mind is rattled by his ego and jealousy, which
eventually leads him to deal with his problems both in and out of the
ring.
Ali (2001)
He’s probably the
most famous boxer in history and it was Will Smith who took on the
challenge of portraying him on the big screen. Ali follows Muhammad
Ali’s personal and professional life; his conversion to Islam,
refusal to fight in the Vietnam War and claiming the heavyweight
title from rival Sonny Liston. Smith had big shoes to fill playing
the iconic boxer,
but the result serves as a triumph to Ali’s legendary reign.
Million Dollar
Baby (2004)
Director Clint
Eastwood’s Million Dollar Baby is a modern masterpiece of the
genre, a film that follows the ambition of a young female fighter and
her older pro-trainer. Hilary Swank pulls off a stunning performance
as Maggie Fitzgerald, an amateur boxer who stops at nothing to make
it to the top. Eastwood plays the role of her underappreciated
trainer who sets out to redeem his career by agreeing to train
Maggie. The Oscar-winning film is both a celebration and gritty
depiction of the sport that perfectly examines the notion that
underdogs may or may not always come out on top, all the while
raising the bar for the sports genre.
The Fighter
(2010)
It was Christian
Bale who took home all the awards for his portrayal of Dicky Eklund,
the brother of professional boxer Micky Ward (played by Mark
Wahlberg) in this Oscar favourite. However, while Bale stole the show
as the supportive older brother, who was also a former boxer and
trainer, the film tells the true story of Ward, a welterweight boxer
who found success though struggled to keep it. Director David
O’Russell balances the drama in the ring with Ward’s personal and
family issues, exploring his dysfunctional relationships with his
controlling mother, domineering sisters and troubled brother.
Creed (2015)
Sylvester Stallone
put on his Rocky gloves yet again, nine years after 2006’s Rocky
Balboa, in Creed. Recruiting Michael B. Jordan in the title role,
director Ryan Coogler shifts the focus of the story to Adonis
‘Donnie’ Creed, the son of Apollo Creed, an ex-con who decides to
take up boxing as a profession. Determined to fulfil his dream,
Donnie travels to Philadelphia and lands in the hands of now-retired
boxer Rocky who agrees to train him. Staying true to the
predecessor’s roots, Creed lays out the framework to allow Stallone
to pass the mantle into the capable hands of Jordan, who shines, for
further bouts in the ring.
Orthodox is
out on DVD and Digital HD on May 16 courtesy of Soda Pictures.
Buy from Amazon at the following link
Orthodox [DVD] [2016]