The Opponent (1988)
"Qualcuno pagherà" (original title)

Director:

Sergio Martino

Writers:

Robert Brodie Booth (screenplay), Maria Perrone Capano (screenplay),

Stars:

Daniel Greene, Giuliano Gemma, Keely Shaye Smith

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Daniel Greene	...	Bobby Mulligan
Giuliano Gemma	...	Martin Duranti
Keely Shaye Smith	...	Anne
Ernest Borgnine	...	Victor
Mary Stavin	...	Gilda Duranti
Bill Wohrman	...	Larry
James Warring	...	Eddy
A.J. Duhe	...	Baby
Herb Goldstein	...	Doctor
Ruben Rabasa	...	Ollie
Gregg Todd Davis	...	Punk
Edgar Allan Poe IV	...	Punk #1
Lenny Moore	...	Duncan
Scotty Gallin	...	Pappy (as Scott Gallin)
Mark McCraken	...	Don (as Marc McCraken)

Storyline

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

8 July 1988 (Italy)

Also Known As:

Uppercut Man

Company Credits

Production Co:

Medusa Distribuzione, National Cinematografica, Nuova Dania Cinematografica

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min 90 min (cut) (video)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

User Reviews

Cheesy As Heck.. Not A Good Thing To Be

Imagine every cliché in every boxing movie ever made. Now, splice them together and you end up with this foreign curiosity. You have the young contender who has to overcome the odds to get the title, the wise old trainer who may as well have I WILL DIE BEFORE THE END tattooed on his bonce, the sleazy promoter with the dodgy moustache and his constant entourage of hired goons in business suits, and the innocent girlfriend destined to be kidnapped and held for ransom on the outcome of the final fight. It's like colour by numbers: each element is present and correct, and ready to be filled in by the unimaginative script writer.

The ringside parts are not actually that bad, with some vaguely convincing slugging and crowd participation going on. It's in the more dramatic moments that 'The Opponent' falls flat on its face. Daniel Greene may have a great muscular physique, but he cannot act his way out of a paper bag. His attempts at thespianism are laughable, and his romantic scenes with newcomer Keely Shayne Smith are particularly embarrassing. I'd rank him several notches below Ar-nulled on the charisma stakes too. (Wow, that's harsh) The rest of the cast do nothing to elevate themselves out of their stereotypical roles either. That's it, just take the money and run fellas!! No-one will ever know..

3/10 all the way. However, the video's box gets a 7, mainly it has a still image of the only nude scene in the film (Yes, I know I'm a perve). This would be the only reason for me to keep this hunk of junk. On second thoughts though, where did I put that photocopier...?