Poor Boy's Game

2007

Poor Boy's Game

Critics Consensus

No consensus yet.

83%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 6

66%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 678
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Poor Boy's Game Photos

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Movie Info

Released from prison after serving ten years for pummeling his opponent to the point of inflicting severe brain damage, working class pugilist Donnie Rose (Rossif Sutherland) finds his efforts to start life anew complicated by simmering racism and long-suppressed vengeance. In the aftermath of Donnie's notorious bout with aspiring boxer Charlie Carvery (K.C. Collins), racial tensions in Halifax, Nova Scotia sharply divided the community between black and white. During his sentence Donnie not only honed his boxing skills to near perfection, but he also entered into a furtive affair with his black cellmate - a fact which he struggles to keep from his deeply prejudiced brother Keith (Greg Bryk. Though Charlie's vengeful father George (Danny Glover) has long looked forward to the day he will take revenge on the man who destroyed his son's life, the conflicted father discovers that he simply isn't a killer when finally given the opportunity to pull the trigger on Donnie. Subsequently offered $20,000 to step into the ring with fearsome local boxing champion Ossie Paris (Flex Alexander) for a high profile grudge match that will surely spell his doom, Donnie soon finds help coming from the most unlikely of places.
  • Rating:
    R
  • Genre:
    Art House & International, Drama
  • Directed By:
    Clément Virgo
  • Written By:
    Chaz Thorne, Clément Virgo
  • In Theaters:
     wide
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    ThinkFilm Inc.

Cast

Rossif Sutherland
as Donnie Rose
Danny Glover
as George Carvery
Greg Bryk
as Keith Rose
Flex Alexander
as Ossie Paris
Laura Regan
as Emma
Tonya Lee Williams
as Ruth Carvery
Stephen McHattie
as Uncle Joe
Chris Collins
as Charles Carvery
Maestro
as Nathan
Hugh Thompson
Dwain Murphy
as Flipper
Carol Sinclair
as Abigail
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News & Interviews for Poor Boy's Game

Danny Glover’s 10 Best Movies
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Critic Reviews for Poor Boy's Game

All Critics (6) | Top Critics (2) | Fresh (5) | Rotten (1)

  • Poor Boy's Game is a movie built around a boxing match, but its most powerful scenes involve no jabs or hooks.

    March 13, 2008 | Rating: 3.5/5

    Neil Genzlinger

    New York Times
    Top Critic

  • [Director Clement] Virgo and co-writer Chaz Thorne look beyond the usual character arcs, adding fresh and urgent perspective to a socially aware and emotionally intense movie.

    December 7, 2007 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

    Peter Howell

    Toronto Star
    Top Critic

  • A bold script improves this drama about masculinity and bigotry in a small community. It also helps to have a terrific actor like Danny Glover on board.

    May 3, 2008 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…

    Rich Cline

    Shadows on the Wall

  • Quote not available.

    December 12, 2007 | Rating: 2.5/4
    National Post

  • The film does not pull its punches, and though uneven, is compelling.

    December 7, 2007 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…

    Liz Braun

    Jam! Movies

  • ...certainly marks a step in the right direction for filmmaker Clement Virgo...

    September 15, 2007 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…

    David Nusair

    Reel Film Reviews
View All Critic Reviews (6)

Audience Reviews for Poor Boy's Game

  • Jan 29, 2009
    a man is released from prison after 10 years for a crime and must go back to his neighbourhood and confront the neighbourhood especially danny glover whos son was victim, and his boxing roots there, a well acted drama
    scott g Super Reviewer
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