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The Boxer is a standard drama that packs a true emotional wallop thanks to the highly tuned central performances.
All Critics (70) | Top Critics (27) | Fresh (56) | Rotten (14) | DVD (1)
In each film he makes, Day-Lewis seems to adopt a new persona. May 14, 2013 | Full Review…
In each film he makes, Day-Lewis seems to adopt a new persona.
Bob Thomas
Day-Lewis has the ability to make the will to nonviolence look positively volcanic. And Watson, with her 200-watt incandescence, makes longing look radiant. May 14, 2013 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…
Day-Lewis has the ability to make the will to nonviolence look positively volcanic. And Watson, with her 200-watt incandescence, makes longing look radiant.
Carrie Rickey
If The Boxer doesn't quite score a knockout, that's because of such flaws as the too-sketchy development of the character of Maggie's son, who turns out to be pivotal. But the movie carries the day by aiming its strongest punches straight at the heart. May 14, 2013 | Full Review…
If The Boxer doesn't quite score a knockout, that's because of such flaws as the too-sketchy development of the character of Maggie's son, who turns out to be pivotal. But the movie carries the day by aiming its strongest punches straight at the heart.
Jay Boyar
With Watson and Day-Lewis you can almost feel the heat, and their situation never feels contrived or artificial. May 14, 2013 | Full Review…
With Watson and Day-Lewis you can almost feel the heat, and their situation never feels contrived or artificial.
Paul Clinton (CNN.com)
The critic dutifully tabulated each blunt plot point, each refried cliche.. And yet, when Danny's nemesis did something monstrously rotten, the critic was so enraged by the dastardly act that he had to stop himself from spitting his candy. May 14, 2013 | Full Review…
The critic dutifully tabulated each blunt plot point, each refried cliche.. And yet, when Danny's nemesis did something monstrously rotten, the critic was so enraged by the dastardly act that he had to stop himself from spitting his candy.
Richard Corliss
Though we've seen this unquiet terrain before, this new film about boxing, star-crossed lovers and the Irish Republican Army temporarily gives us fresh eyes. May 14, 2013 | Rating: 3.5/4 | Full Review…
Though we've seen this unquiet terrain before, this new film about boxing, star-crossed lovers and the Irish Republican Army temporarily gives us fresh eyes.
Michael Wilmington
It is well acted and directed... It's just the script that could have been a little more memorable. Mar 11, 2019 | Rating: B- | Full Review…
It is well acted and directed... It's just the script that could have been a little more memorable.
Rachel Wagner
What makes The Boxer as potent as it is are the performances, especially Daniel Day-Lewis' contained powerhouse. His Danny is a closed-off man, shadowboxing with his private demons, who comes painfully, but gloriously, back to life. May 14, 2013 | Full Review…
What makes The Boxer as potent as it is are the performances, especially Daniel Day-Lewis' contained powerhouse. His Danny is a closed-off man, shadowboxing with his private demons, who comes painfully, but gloriously, back to life.
Serena Donadoni
An intelligent, provocative piece of cinema, with something quite bold to say in the Irish context. May 14, 2013 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…
An intelligent, provocative piece of cinema, with something quite bold to say in the Irish context.
David Stratton
A knock-out performance by Daniel Day-Lewis is the highlight of this admirable if rather conventional drama. May 14, 2013 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…
A knock-out performance by Daniel Day-Lewis is the highlight of this admirable if rather conventional drama.
Tom Hutchinson
We never figure out, though, what drives Day-Lewis' Danny. We just take it on faith that he's stubborn and sick of violence. The filmmakers don't help much, offering just a twist on the star-crossed lovers story, mixed with standard boxing melodrama. May 14, 2013 | Rating: 2.5/4
We never figure out, though, what drives Day-Lewis' Danny. We just take it on faith that he's stubborn and sick of violence. The filmmakers don't help much, offering just a twist on the star-crossed lovers story, mixed with standard boxing melodrama.
Matt Soergel
The art-house dream-team pairing of Daniel Day-Lewis and Emily Watson amounts to more of a soft jab than a knockout punch. May 14, 2013 | Rating: B | Full Review…
The art-house dream-team pairing of Daniel Day-Lewis and Emily Watson amounts to more of a soft jab than a knockout punch.
Gary Thompson
A boxer returns from an unjust prison sentence to try to rebuild his life in an Ireland at odds with itself. Lewis carries the picture easily as a man of few words but his scenes with Watson up the ante: watching them communicate when they know it's against the rules but unable to help themselves makes the film. The boxing scenes are good as well.
Super Reviewer
Daniel Day-Lewis doing what he does best. The plot is really good as well, dealing with the IRA and a forbidden love between Day-Lewis and an old flame. Also, it seems that Cinderella Man's style and plot points seemed to borrow a lot from this movie, but out of the two, this is definitely the one to see.
The best part of this movie is that you know DDL was training his ass off and probably could have been a featherweight champion. Watching him jump rope and fight in those matches was great. Then there is the speech that he gives to Watson about jail, it's almost worth the price of admission. Basically, even though the movie is just okay and left me wanting more, you keep watching because of the acting, Brian Cox is great as well. I am on a huge IRA kick here lately.
It's mainly a hard romance story, set within the story of an ex-boxer making a life out of prison with what he knows amidst the eternal terrorist struggles in Ireland. I don't think Daniel Day-Lewis could play a bad part in a film if he tried, as he easily carries the movie here. Alongside him are a couple of Thomas Harris-universe vets in Emily Watson (Red Dragon) and Brian Cox (Manhunter). As it is, several different things could tear apart a romance already torn apart for 14 years due to a stretch in prison. I've been searching for this movie for the last 10 years, finally found it and was in no way disappointed.
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