The Boxer (1997)
Runtime: 1 hr 56 mins
Synopsis: Daniel Day-Lewis stars in this searing portrait of 1990s Belfast ripped apart by 20 years of religious conflict and IRA violence. Danny Flynn (Day-Lewis), a repentant IRA operative seasoned by a 14-year prison term, returns to the neighborhood of his childhood to try to rebuild his life. A... Daniel Day-Lewis stars in this searing portrait of 1990s Belfast ripped apart by 20 years of religious conflict and IRA violence. Danny Flynn (Day-Lewis), a repentant IRA operative seasoned by a 14-year prison term, returns to the neighborhood of his childhood to try to rebuild his life. A prizefighter in his youth, he teams up with his old trainer (Ken Stott) to reopen a nonsectarian boxing gym in a bombed-out community center. Meanwhile, Danny finds himself undeniably drawn to his old girlfriend Maggie (Emily Watson), who is now married to his former best friend, an imprisoned IRA member. Maggie's father, Joe Hamil (Brian Cox), the head of the local IRA chapter, is attempting to negotiate an IRA cease-fire, causing extreme tension between IRA factions with opposing views. Danny and Maggie's rekindled love, which defies the IRA rule promising death for anyone having an affair with an imprisoned operative's wife, thrusts Danny straight into the center of the erupting tensions. Irish director Jim Sheridan and British actor Daniel Day-Lewis (who worked together on IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER and MY LEFT FOOT) once again team up with wondrous results, creating a vivid and captivating portrait of an Ireland intimately torn by ancient religious strife. [More]
Genre: Dramas
Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Emily Watson, Brian Cox, Ken Stott, Gerard McSorley
Producer: Jim Sheridan, Arthur Lappin
Screenwriter: Jim Sheridan, Terry George
Composer: Gavin Friday, Maurice Seezer
DVD Info
Release:
May 4, 1999
DVD Features:
- Region 1
- Keep Case
- Letterbox - 1.66
- Dual Layer
Audio:
- DTS Surround 5.0 - English
- Dolby Digital 3.0 - English
Buy It On DVD
Reviews
... a lasting testament to the power of love and the damage done by prejudice and hate.
It's laden with such a heavy air of portentousness that it's difficult to become absorbed by the story.
Even with a predictably strong performance from Day-Lewis, who once again immerses body and soul into his role, the film is a letdown.
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posted by Scott Weinberg July 24, 2007
He's already got Bryan Singer's "Valkyrie" and Robert Redford's "Lions for Lambs" on the way, but the United Artists...


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