6
The plot and time-sequencing were ludicrously truncated, and the film almost self-parodically heavy-handed (seriously, the "great white hope"--again!) However, Gyllenhall shows his range in an earnest performance, and Whitaker, especially, does some of his more nuanced recent screen work with a role that in lesser hands would have been straight cliche. The film conveys well the atmosphere of the gym, the commitment the sport requires, and the punishment endured by fighters who neglect to work on their ring generalship and defense. It won't win the sport of boxing any new fans, and, well, for fight fans -- it's a Hollywood movie, and no worse than a number of the recent pay-per-views.