"Breakdown" is a cheap B-movie about boxing. Now, you might assume that a cheap film like this would be bad, but the movie is surprisingly effective and worth watching.
When the story begins, Terry is in prison and has shown himself to be a terrific boxer. He's so good that a promoter manages to get him released. Ironically, the judge who agrees to the release was the same one which presided over the trial where Terry was convicted of murder! As for Terry, he's excited more at being able to perhaps prove his innocence than his prowess as a boxer. Oddly, despite this, Terry is an amazing boxer...and soon is being considered for the title fight against 'the champ'. But what about his need to prove his innocence?
The major theme in this one is not just Terry proving his innocence but two other themes. One is about boxing and women...and Terry's trainer hates that Terry is falling in love. The other is about a boxer named 'Punchy'...who is severely brain damaged by years of boxing. Punchy's ex-girlfriend is worried this will also be Terry's fate!
The film manages to be pro- AND anti-boxing....but mostly anti. The script is quite good and the film well worth seeing even though most of the actors are unfamiliar faces and the film was obviously made by a minor studio. I was about to give it a 7, but the ending was a bit disappointing and left some important plot elements dangling.
When the story begins, Terry is in prison and has shown himself to be a terrific boxer. He's so good that a promoter manages to get him released. Ironically, the judge who agrees to the release was the same one which presided over the trial where Terry was convicted of murder! As for Terry, he's excited more at being able to perhaps prove his innocence than his prowess as a boxer. Oddly, despite this, Terry is an amazing boxer...and soon is being considered for the title fight against 'the champ'. But what about his need to prove his innocence?
The major theme in this one is not just Terry proving his innocence but two other themes. One is about boxing and women...and Terry's trainer hates that Terry is falling in love. The other is about a boxer named 'Punchy'...who is severely brain damaged by years of boxing. Punchy's ex-girlfriend is worried this will also be Terry's fate!
The film manages to be pro- AND anti-boxing....but mostly anti. The script is quite good and the film well worth seeing even though most of the actors are unfamiliar faces and the film was obviously made by a minor studio. I was about to give it a 7, but the ending was a bit disappointing and left some important plot elements dangling.