DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS : Tuesday 10th May 2022.

'DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS', which I saw at my local Multiplex this week, is an M Rated American Superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character of Doctor Stephen Strange and is the sequel to 2016's 'Doctor Strange' which grossed US$668M off the back of a production budget of circa US$200M and is the 28th feature film and part of Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This film is Directed by Sam Raimi who replaced Director Scott Derrickson from the first instalment. Originally slated for release in early May 2021, it was pushed back to early November 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, before it was further shifted to the end of March 2022, and in October 2021, it was shifted once more to its current May 2022 date with the World Premier on 2nd May and its world wide release last week. On a budget of US$200M, the film has so far grossed US$533M and has received generally positive Critical feedback. 

Set a few months following the events of 'Spider-Man : No Way Home', the film opens up with teenager America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez) and an alternate version of Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) being chased by a demon in the space between universes while searching for the Book of Vishanti (the greatest known source of white magical knowledge on Earth that contains spells of defensive magic). Strange is killed before he can reach the Book of Vishanti and Chavez accidentally creates a portal that transports herself and Strange's corpse to Earth-616, where that universe's version of Strange is attending the wedding of his former love interest Christine Palmer (Rachel McAdams). 

Sipping Martini's post ceremony Strange springs to the rescue of  Chavez from an octopus demon with help from the Sorcerer Supreme, Wong (Benedict Wong). Chavez later explains that the demons are hunting her because she has the power to travel through the multiverse, although she is unable to control when and where she travels to and from. 

Recognising witchcraft runes on the now slaughtered octopus demon, Strange consults Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) for help but realises that she is responsible for the attacks. After acquiring the Darkhold (also known as The Book of the Damned, a textbook of black magic) and becoming the Scarlet Witch, Maximoff believes that controlling Chavez's powers will allow her to reunite with Billy (Julian Hilliard) and Tommy (Jett Klyne), the children she created during her time in Westview, New Jersey. When Strange refuses to surrender Chavez, Maximoff attacks Kamar-Taj in Kathmandu, Nepal and the main HQ for the Masters of the Mystic Arts, killing many sorcerers. 

Chavez accidentally transports herself and Strange to Earth-838, taking in a multitude of multiverses to arrive there, while Maximoff uses the Darkhold to 'dream-walk', taking control of her Earth-838 counterpart, who lives a suburban life with her own Billy and Tommy. With Wong strung up and powerless, a surviving sorceress sacrifices herself to destroy the Darkhold and break the dream-walk. Enraged, Maximoff then forces Wong to lead her to Mount Wundagore (a mountain which holds the power of the Darkhold and features a shrine sitting atop dedicated to the Scarlet Witch), a forbidden ancient ruin, to reestablish the dream-walk.

On Earth-838 Strange and Chavez pay a visit to the Sanctum Sanctorum in that universe's version of New York City. There they are greeted by Sorcerer Supreme Karl Mordo (Chiwetel Ejiofor), and brought before the Illuminati, a group consisting of Mordo, Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell), Blackagar Boltagon (Anson Mount), Maria Rambeau (Lashana Lynch), Reed Richards (John Krasinski), and Charles Xavier (Patrick Stewart). They explain that through reckless use of their universe's Darkhold in an attempt to defeat Thanos, Earth-838's Strange triggered a universe-destroying 'incursion' whereby two universes collide with one completely destroying the other. After defeating Thanos, the Illuminati killed their Strange to prevent him from creating more damage and danger to their universe. Mordo is of the belief that Earth-616's Strange is as dangerous, whereas Charles Xavier is prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt and a second chance. 

Maximoff re-establishes her dream-walk at Mount Wundagore and arrives in her Earth-838 counterpart's body before they can pass judgment. Despite their best valiant attempts she slaughters all of the Illuminati except Mordo. Strange and Chavez meanwhile escape aided by Earth-838 counterpart of Strange's ex-fiance Christine Palmer, here a scientist working with the Illuminati.

Strange, Chavez, and Palmer enter through a doorway that leads them to a space between universes to find the Book of Vishanti, the polar opposite to the Darkhold, but Maximoff appears and destroys it. She then takes over Chavez's mind, using her powers to send the others to an incursion-destroyed universe. Back in Earth-616, Maximoff begins the spell to take Chavez's powers. Strange defeats the destroyed universe's Strange in a blackened out wasteland that was that universe's version of New York City and the Sanctum Sanctorum. 

That version of Strange had become corrupted by his universe's Darkhold, but Strange then uses it to dream-walk in the corpse of the deceased alternate Strange that Chavez was with when she jumped through the portal into Earth-616 initially. With Wong's help, Strange saves Chavez from Maximoff and encourages Chavez to use her powers. 

She transports Maximoff to Earth-838, where she sees Billy and Tommy retreat from her in fear while crying for their real mother. Maximoff relents and uses her powers to bring down Mount Wundagore, destroying all copies of the Darkhold throughout the multiverse and seemingly sacrificing herself in the process, along with the zombiefied Strange. Chavez returns Strange and Palmer to their respective universes.

Later, when peace has returned to Earth-616 Kamar-Taj is in the throes of being repaired as the surviving sorcerers, joined by Chavez, continue with their training. Strange having just exited from the Sanctum Sanctorum falls to the ground in agony as he develops a third eye as a result of using the Darkhold and dream-walking into a corpse. In a mid-credits scene, Strange is approached by a sorceress who introduces herself as Clea (Charlize Theron) who warns him that his actions have triggered an incursion that he must help fix. Strange follows her into the Dark Dimension. 

Sam Raimi's 'Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness' has his trademark touches all over it, from the humour to the horror, and the drama to the thrills, here he explores various worlds within the multiverse that make for an entertaining and enjoyable watch, and, at at little over a very respectable two hour run time. The film is certainly a feast for the senses, but it misses out on an emotional heartbeat in favour of wham bam thank-you Ma'am action set pieces and mind bending CGI eye candy, that sure enough help propel the story along and I guess there's nothing wrong with that either. With twenty-seven MCU films before it, here the Studio and Raimi have delivered perhaps the most supernatural, dark fantasy tinged with elements of horror offering to date replete with the Director's touchstones from his forty year plus filmmaking career. Cumberbatch and Olsen provide the standout performances in their roles, as you would expect now given how settled they both are in their respective capacities, but Wong could have done with a little bit more meat on his characters bones, and I was left wanting to see more of him. As for the numerous cameo's - they're all on point despite many of them coming to a sticky end, albeit in an alternate universe which means that we're likely to see them again!

'Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness' merits four claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a possible five claps.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

DOCTOR STRANGE : Sunday 30th October 2016

'DOCTOR STRANGE' which I saw last weekend is the fourteenth instalment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the guise of one Doctor Stephen Strange, a lesser known character in the comic canon, but one nonetheless who has carved out a niche following and who has been around since being created by artist Steve Ditko in 1963, with Stan Lee penning the mystical mind bending story. Made for US$165M, the early Reviews of 'Doctor Strange' have been very positive, with Marvel looking as though they have backed another winner, with the Box Office tally so far amounting to US$123M, with it's US release date being 4th November. With Scott Derrickson in the Director's Chair and also taking a Screenplay and Story credit, Benedict Cumberbatch playing the title role and ably supported by a strong cast that includes Tilda Swinton, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Mads Mikkelsen, Rachel McAdams and Benjamin Bratt, and all the touchstones from the MCU that we have come to know, love and expect, I think it's fair to say that we are going to be seeing more of the good Doctor in future standalone and cross-over instalments.

The film opens in an ancient looking library of sorts where arrives Kaecilius (Mads Mikkelsen) and two of his henchmen through some kind of magical portal. They behead the librarian and steal some select pages from an ancient and mystical book, and with their business done they disappear from whence they came. Meanwhile, we are introduced to the brilliant and world acclaimed neurosurgeon Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) as he preforms intricate surgery on a patient, assisted by Christine Palmer (Rachel McAdams) - his former love interest. Strange whilst brilliant is egotistical, self-opinionated and not good on a personal level with emotions, empathy and relationships. He has all the trappings of a hugely successful career though - penthouse suite overlooking the city, fast car, public speaking engagements, designer suits, and an extensive exclusive watch collection for every occasion. He is much sought after for his brilliance on the operating table, and is keen to keep pushing the envelope of medical research to advance his know how, his skills and to keep at the top of his game.

One evening en route to a high profile public speaking engagement at the wheel of his sports car, he veers out of control and through a mountain side crash barrier, down a ravine being turned every which way as his car crumples around him gradually coming to rest on its end and half submerged in the water on the outskirts of the city. He comes round sometime later after having had extensive surgery performed on him to repair the damage done to both of his crushed hands. He is distraught, as his hands are the very tools he so relies on to perform the intricate surgery that he is world renowned for. What is he to do?

After months of seeking out the means with which to repair his hands and restore them to their former abilities, and only failing in the process and using up all of his accumulated wealth in the meantime, Strange seeks out a Jonathan Pangborn (Benjamin Bratt) whom he has been told was a paraplegic who mysteriously was able to walk again. Pangborn tells Strange that his healing must come from within and directs him to Kathmandu and to a place known as Kamar-Taj. And so using the last of his available funds he travels to Nepal out of desperation and in a last ditch attempt to find a cure for his hands to heal, the way Pangborn has been healed.

Arriving at Kamar-Taj he is taken in by Karl Mordo (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and introduced to The Ancient One (Tilda Swinton) - the Sorcerer Supreme who has lived for a very long, albeit undisclosed, time and has taught all comers over that time. The initial introductions do not go according to plan and Strange is kicked out on the street for his arrogance, but eventually the two relent and allow the Doctor back in. The Ancient One shows Strange her power to help him believe in the power beyond our own understanding, our own universe and our own dimensions. 'Through the mystic arts we harness energy to shape reality' she tells him. This time Strange eats humble pie and begs for The Ancient One to teach him. Months pass as Strange becomes the model pupil, devouring the books from the library to quench his thirst for knowledge and understanding, aided by Librarian Wong (Benedict Wong), and practicing the mystical arts to a point where he can harness such powers and command them.

Strange learns of Kaecilius and that he was a former pupil of Kamar-Taj and The Ancient One, and that it was he who killed the librarian and stole the pages from the The Ancient One's collection of books and forbidden texts from the same place he has now taken up residence in. Strange also learns that the world is protected from the otherworldly dimensions by a spell that connects three buildings (called Sanctums) located in London, New York and Hong Kong. The task of the sorcerers, through Kamar-Taj, is to protect all three Sanctums. Pangborn, however, chose to pass up on this opportunity and channel his newly learned mystical powers into regaining the use of his legs and making his body whole again. As for Kaecilius, he moved to the dark side following the death of those closest to him, believing that everyone should have the opportunity to live as long as The Ancient One, and as such has turned against Kamar-Taj for his own personal gain and immortality.

Kaecilius and his henchmen begin to call up the all powerful ruler of the Dark Dimension, Dormammu. In the Dark Dimension time does not exist and therefore everyone can live forever. Dormammu sees our humble little green planet as rich pickings for a take over. Kaecilius sets his energy in motion using the stolen texts from The Ancient One back at Kamar-Taj. The London Sanctum is destroyed, leaving Strange to exit Kamar-Taj post haste and to make to New York to protect the Sanctum there. Here, Strange and Kaecilius meet head to head, fist to fist and toe to toe for the first time. Strange is aided by the mystical red 'Cloak of Levitation' which sourced him out having a will of its own, and which helps keep his antagonists at bay until Mordo and The Ancient One arrive to provide the necessary back up.

A foot chase follows through the streets of New York, where Kaecilius uses his dark mystical powers to distort reality as the city scape inverts itself, building collapse in on themselves, and the world is turned upside down, inside out and every which way unimaginable. This is minding bending stuff the like of which we saw in 'Inception' a few years ago, but not to this scale it must be said, and all the while, Strange and Co. and chasing, fighting and evading Kaecilius and Co. It's a wild ride man! In the fracas The Ancient One is injured, but not before Kaecilius reveals that she has gained her strength and longevity by tapping into The Dark Dimension for her power. Her injuries are life threatening and she dies on the operating table back in Strange's own hospital, with a bewildered Palmer looking on, wondering WTF just happened here?

With Strange and Mordo distracted with the death of The Ancient One, Kaecilius departs for the Hong Kong Sanctum. By the time Strange and Mordo arrive, the Dark Dimension has already been summonsed and is beginning to engulf the city with mounting destruction and a rising body count. Strange has another trick up his sleeve, in the form of the mystical 'Eye of Agamotto' - an amulet he retrieved form Kamar-Taj that he now wears around his neck and with which he can command time. Strange turns back time so reversing the effect of The Dark Dimension on the city and its people. In the process he creates an ever lasting time loop in which he and Dormammu are seemingly caught forever reliving the same moment over, and over and over again. In time with constant chiding by Strange, Dormammu grows weary of the repetitiveness and agrees to leave Earth and take his disciples with him, in exchange for Strange breaking the loop.

Needless to say all's well that ends well for Strange, and the people of Hong Kong and the citizens of the world. Mordo however, exits stage left disgusted that Strange and The Ancient One dare defy the forces of nature by bending time to save humanity. Strange becomes The Sorcerer Supreme now that The Ancient One has left this mortal coil, and retreats back to the New York Sanctum acting as the guardian there armed to the teeth with his new found and already proven metaphysical abilities, and his now trademark red Cloak of Levitation.

Watch out for the mid-credits sequence involving a one on one fireside chat over a never ending litre of beer with Thor in which Strange questions Thor's decision to bring his brother Loki to Earth to search for their father Odin. Strange wants Loki off our planet quick smart and agrees to help Thor in his search - a nod here to the upcoming 'Thor : Ragnarok' due in November 2017. In the end credits sequence, Mordo visits Pangborn in his workshop and steals back the powers that he has to walk claiming that Earth already has too many sorcerers, leaving Pangborn in a crumpled crippled state on the floor! And finally, watch out for the obligatory Stan Lee cameo - hilarious!

I enjoyed this new mystical mind bending, time warping, psychedelic addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and Cumberbatch is perfectly cast in the role and does the character justice in this origin story that sets the foundation for more to come as we are told after the end credits have rolled. Marvel have here once again proved themselves far superior in bringing their rich comic heritage to the big screen in new, inventive and unique ways that keep us entertained, amused and ultimately coming back for more - far more so than those from the other side of the fence, DC! This film and this character is unlike any we have hitherto seen, and as such Doctor Strange provides a welcome shot in the arm for the SuperHero genre, that will help invigorate that universe and take it in a new direction. 'The Avengers protect the world from physical dangers, we safeguard it against more mystical threats' exclaims Wong, and here the portal opens setting the scene for future Strange instalments and cross-over episodes as inevitably worlds collide. Bring it on! Catch 'Doctor Strange' on the big screen - it's well worth your $20 for the solid story, the great visuals and strong performances.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

SPOTLIGHT : Tuesday 2nd February 2016

'SPOTLIGHT' which I saw earlier this week is a truly compelling film account of the true life facts surrounding the systematic abuse of children by the Catholic Church spanning decades. Directed by Tom McCarthy and with an all star award winning ensemble cast, this film was made for US$20M and has so far made US$37M having premiered at the Venice International Film Festival in early September before general release in the US on 6th November and here in Australia on 20th January. Nominated for six yet to be announced Academy Awards, those being for Best Film, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Editing and Best Supporting Actor and Actress, as well as three  also yet to be announced BAFTA nominations for Best Actor, Best Film and Best Screenplay. Additionally, it has garnered along the way 84 award wins and another 107 award nominations - not so bad at all, and, hardly surprising given the acting talent on display here, the story telling and the manner in which the subject matter is handled on screen.

And so to that subject matter which make this so compelling, and a story that had to be told, and that as a consequence, had much further reaching implications worldwide. The film opens with the appointment of a new Editor to The Boston Globe newspaper in 2001 - Marty Baron (Liev Schreiber) who is quickly introduced to Walter 'Robby' Robinson (Michael Keaton) who heads up the famed 'Spotlight' Team for the newspaper. This small but experienced group of investigative journalists work tirelessly on hand picked cases to investigate and expose, often taking months and up to a year to bring their story and its findings to print. The Spotlight Team has been operating since 1970, and is the longest running continuous newspaper investigative team working in the US. Baron, of Jewish decent, picks up on a former case about a paedophile priest and a lawyer Mitchell Garabedian (Stanley Tucci) who knew that the Archbishop of Boston Cardinal Bernard Law (Lou Cariou) knew of the priests sexual abuse of children but did nothing about it. This case was reported in Globe but only a few column inches were dedicated to it and it was quickly covered up and buried by the Church.

Gathering Robinson and Ben Bradlee (John Slattery) together who both work as investigators and Editors at The Globe and on the Spotlight Team, Baron tasks them with digging deeper and to investigate the story thoroughly putting whatever resources necessary toward their case. Robinson and Bradlee agree somewhat reluctantly believing there to be just one priest who has moved around through the years. And so the remaining team are each assigned tasks - Michael Rezendes (Mark Ruffalo on fine form and noticeably slimmed down),  Matt Carroll (Brian d'Arcy James) and Sacha Pfeiffer (Rachel McAdams) begin to quickly uncover more than they bargained for.

Rezendes meets with Garabedian who has ongoing direct contact with such victims of abuse but has been banned for speaking about such cases by the Church - but he is a reliable source of information and history. Pfeiffer and Robinson meet up with a guy who leads a victims rights group and provides evidence of abuse and cover ups by the Church going back many years, but the group has dwindled to just a handful because some have moved on, many are embarrassed and ashamed, and many are too tired to pursue any action of recompense further. But, it provides further evidence for the investigative Team. In turn they track down attorney Eric MacLeish (Billy Crudup) who has defended a number of priests against such claims but is sworn to not disclose any matters relating to those cases. Pfeiffer and Carroll also start interviewing willing victims all of whom have their own shocking stories to tell of their younger years at the hands of their caring local neighbourhood priest.

As their digging deepens so it becomes evident that there have been cover ups by the Church for many many years, and indications lead to thirteen priests in all that now come under much closer scrutiny across the Boston area. The Team further learns through Richard Sipe (Richard Jenkins in telephone voiceover only), a former Benedictine priest of almost twenty years, and now professional psychotherapist who has worked with rehabilitating paedophile priests, that in his expert estimation there is likely to be 6% of the priesthood who are offenders, and therefore by his estimation that would be ninety priests in the Boston area. This statistic stuns the Team, but gels them into further intensity in their investigations.

In doing so The Spotlight Team soon uncover 87 names that they have determined are legitimate repeat child sex offenders and that Cardinal Law knew about this, and did nothing to stop it, and allowed further ongoing abuse . . . and so did a number of public officials, spanning decades. To support the case The Boston Globe wins the right to have a number of legally sealed evidentiary documents  released into the public domain, which provide firm conclusive proof that Cardinal Law knew of these activities and chose to ignore them. As a result the Team set about preparing their final work for release in the newspaper early in 2002.

As a consequence of their work on exposing this case and bringing it to the worlds attention, the Spotlight Team win The Boston Globe the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service. This story which eventually saw over 240 priests exposed in the Greater Boston area (as the end credits tell us) had more far reaching implications around the world as more and more evidence of systematic Catholic Church child abuse came to light, and continues to do so. This film made be pleased not to be a Catholic!

This is a film that had to be told because we have heard these stories in the news all too frequently in more recent years, which of course make this all the more real, relevant and abhorrent. The performances of the Spotlight Team are first rate - nuanced, grounded, emotional and especially that of Ruffalo who has recreated his character with all the nervous energy, mannerisms and expressions and unique characteristics that are worthy of his award nominations, if not a win at least! A truly riveting film that unravels slowly as the Spotlight Team go about their investigative work uncovering more revelations, cover-ups and abuse by those supposedly closest to God! Tom McCarthy who wrote the script with Josh Singer has crafted a brave, relevant, compelling story that is one of this years must-sees!

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

SOUTHPAW - Saturday 22nd August 2015.

'SOUTHPAW' which I saw last night, is a film that owes a lot to Sylvester Stallone - the Writer and Star of the 1976 classic boxing film 'Rocky' that won three Academy Awards, was made for just US1.1M and grossed over US$225M and spawned five sequels with another indirect instalment due in November this year - 'Creed'. All of that said there are many similarities between these two films that makes it hard not to draw comparisons, but, this is a respectable film with a solid enough story and its pugilistic star Jake Gyllenhaal as World Light Heavyweight Champion Billy Hope is a standout for a number of reasons.

In case you didn't know BTW, a 'Southpaw' is a left handed Boxer, and in this case we refer to here one very talented, beefed up, toned up, muscled up, six pack brandishing Jake Gyllenhaal in the lead role who lost 10kgs of weight for his last offering (the excellent 'Nightcrawler') to packing on 16kgs of muscle for this film, and it shows! Directed by Antoine Fuqua this film was made for US$25M and has already raked in over US$65M since its 24th July release Stateside.

Unlike Rocky Balboa's story of a down at heel boxing bum whose grit & determination see him rise up in a rags to riches tale, this is a riches to rags telling of a no hope boxing bum kid who has already risen up and is now at the top of his game and enjoys all the trappings of success. He has a huge house in New York, a fleet of cars at his disposal, his child Leila (Oona Laurence) is at private school and his pretty wife Maureen (Rachel McAdams) organises his life in almost every respect. Plus, he has an entourage of trainers, assistants, a manager Jordan Mains (Curtis '50 Cent' Jackson) an accountant, housemaids and so on. Life is good and he's just defended his title and won! What could possibly go wrong?

Well, you could get into a brawl at a charity event at which you have just spoken, be confronted by a challenger for your title who also disrespects your wife in public, and then she gets accidentally shot, bleeds out and dies in your arms while dozens of onlookers stand around gawping and helpless! Exit stage left Maureen, thanks for coming and rest in peace while Billy's life spirals out of control, he drinks, takes drugs, contemplates suicide, looses custody of his precious Leila, the house gets repossessed, the cars sold and everything he owns is gone!

To regain custody of his daughter he must prove to the courts that he is capable of providing for her in a responsible mature manner which recently has been beyond him. We see him as his life implodes and he struggles to come to terms with the sudden death of his wife, his new responsibilities, his rapidly dwindling wealth, he's out on the street and everyone has abandoned him as a no hoper has-been now.

He joins a back street gym to keep fit and get a cleaning job. That gym is owned and operated by former boxer Titus 'Tick' Wills (Forest Whitaker) - sounds like familiar territory when Rocky teamed up with Mickey Goldmill (Burgess Meredith) - and gradually over time the two win a mutual respect for each other. Tick agrees to (re)train Billy back to fighting strength and agility for a chance at redemption against the challenger Miguel 'Magic' Escobar (Miguel Gomez) who taunted him that ill fated night of Maureen's shooting. What follows is a back to basics low-tech training regime the like of which we saw in 'Rocky' too with Tick, like Mickey, proclaiming that it has to be done his way, or its the highway!

Amidst all of this Billy is still trying to convince the authorities that he is fit to take back charge of his daughter, but they remain unconvinced so she remains in the stewardship of Child Services, steadily distancing herself from him. All comes good in the end though as Billy accepts what he must do in order to win back his daughter and reclaim his place in boxing history, as well as his integrity having fallen so publicly from grace. With six weeks only to the big showdown at Caesar's Palace the pressure is on from a personal and professional level.

The final fight scene sees Billy reunited with Leila and she watches on from the comfort of a suite in the arena while Billy and Escobar go head to head in the ring, with Billy very much the underdog (as was Rocky when he went head to head against Apollo Creed). Round after round the two pugilists pummel each other with the fight not expecting to go beyond three of four rounds (cue another 'Rocky' marker) but of course it does, all the way up to a bloody embattled twelve when with a killer southpaw punch Escobar is sent flying horizontally backwards amidst arcs of glorious blood and sweat slo-mo. In the final analysis Billy is declared the winner by a split decision (in 'Rocky', Creed was declared the winner by a split decision too which set up 'Rocky II' nicely for the rematch of the century), and Billy and Leila live happily ever after, we assume, and once again all is good in the world.

I don't mind a pugilistic film offering at all and have seen many, and when it stars Jake Gyllenhaal what other reason to you need to see a film? His transformation into the role physically is impressive, and his lost fractured and struggling character is a testament to his range. The story may be familiar, offering little that is original or new, but it is the deft hand of the Director, there are strong performances from its lead especially and solid believable dialogue that carry this film forward, and ensures it punches above its weight. But, unlike Rocky it didn't keep me on the edge of my seat in the all important boxing ring sequences that for me make this a lesser offering . . . but only just!



-Steve, at Odeon Online-