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08.30.2007 = JAYPLAY
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reviews
Resurrecting the Champ
Samuel L. Jackson and Josh Hartnett make nice by Chance Dibben
Resurrecting the Champ is another film inspired by a true story, but where most fact-based films fail, this one succeeds. It is vastly superior to the likes of Coach Carter and Freedom Writers because it shows real-life actions resulting in real consequences without exaggerating or over-sentimentizing its central message. Director Rod Lurie handles the story in a rather straightforward style that has a distinctly conversational feel. The result is a film that is genuine and one that never overreaches.
Josh Hartnett plays Erik Kernan Jr., a sportswriter trying to escape the shadow of his father, a great sportscaster from the fitties. After leaving a fight, Erik meets "The Champ" (Samuel L. Jackson), a homeless old-timer who takes beatings from drunken frat boys. The Champ claims to be legendary boxer Bob Satterfield, long thought dead. Recognizing that telling Satterfield's rise-and-fall story through boxing could
lead to bigger and better things, Erik begins a series of interviews with him. Here the film explores journalist-subject relationships, and even though The Champ is Erik's ticket to success, there's never a sense that Erik is exploiting him. Rather we see a mutually beneficial connection develop leading to a very successful article that brings both men fame. However, conflict arises when The Champ's identity is questioned and the events that follow underline how idol worship—be it of athletes or of fathers—can lead to disappointment when our heroes turn out to be human.
Other than Jackson's slightly-over-the-top performance of The Champ (which nevertheless is still quite good) the other actors are excellent, especially Alan Alda as Kernan's editor. Each one feels real and authentic. *Resurrecting the Champ* is a small gem of a movie about the lies we tell each other and the lies we tell ourselves. ★★★★
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