Against the Ropes (2004)

Director:

Charles S. Dutton

Writers (WGA):

Jackie Kallen (life)
Cheryl Edwards (written by)

Release Date:

20 February 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Romance | Sport

Tagline:

She gave the boxing world the one-two punch they never saw coming.

Plot:

A fictional story inspired by North America's most famous female boxing promoter, Jackie Kallen. Her struggle to survive and succeed in a male dominated sport.

Plot Keywords:

Boxing | Boxing Manager | Drugs | Hairy Chest | Female Protagonist

Cast

Meg Ryan	...	Jackie Kallen
Omar Epps	...	Luther Shaw
Charles S. Dutton	...	Felix Reynolds
Tony Shalhoub	...	Sam LaRocca
Tim Daly	...	Gavin Reese
Joe Cortese	...	Irving Abel
Kerry Washington	...	Renee
Sean Bell	...	Ray Kallen
Dean McDermott	...	Pete Kallen
Skye McCole Bartusiak	...	Little Jackie
Juan Carlos Hernández	...	Pedro Hernandez (as Juan Hernandez)
Holt McCallany	...	Doug Doherty
Tory Kittles	...	Devon Green
Gene Mack	...	Kevin Keyes
Beau Starr	...	Corcoran
Jared Durand	...	Young Crisco
Diego Fuentes	...	Car Attendant
Angelo Tucci	...	Rex
Reg Dreger	...	Lonnie
Arturo Fresolone	...	Hernandez' Manager
James Jardine	...	Ring Announcer
Big Daddy Wayne	...	Stormy
Merwin Mondesir	...	Street Crony
Doug Lennox	...	Barrel Chested Man
Hayley Verlyn	...	Beauty with LaRocca
Moses Nyarko	...	Mouketendi
Aidan Devine	...	Crisco
Joel Harris	...	Mathias
Michael Rhoades	...	Mathias' Manager
Bruce Gooch	...	Pawn Shop Clerk
Arnold Pinnock	...	Heavyweight
Neven Pajkic	...	Heavyweight
Adrianne Keshock	...	Janey
Dov Tiefenbach	...	Organic Clerk
Jackie Kallen	...	Female Reporter
Mike Kraft	...	Jacobs
John Christopher Terry	...	USA Today Reporter
Tamara Hickey	...	Megan the Reporter
Karen Robinson	...	Kimberly Insurance
Noah Danby	...	LaRocca Henchman
Rocky Zolnierczyk	...	Sands Fight Referee
Tracy Waterhouse	...	Receptionist
Michael Buffer	...	Ring Announcer
Neil Crone	...	HBO Commentator
Ray Marsh	...	Final Fight Referee
Jeff Ironi	...	Security Guard
Jean Daigle	...	Montage Promoter
Carlos Varela Jr.	...	Hernandez' Trainer
Jason Jones	...	Ticket Guy
Shawn Lawrence	...	Philadelphia Fight Official
Howard Green	...	Sands
Julian Scott	...	Ray Kallen's Sparring Partner
Remo DiCarlo	...	Buffalo Opponent
Everton McEwan	...	Luther's Sparring Partner
Eric Reynolds	...	Hopeful Fighter
Nick Alachiotis	...	Luther's Trainer
Syd Vanderpool	...	Luther's Tampa Opponent
Egerton Marcus	...	Hopeful Fighter
Suchart Yodkerepauprai	...	Rugged Boxer
Hector Perez	...	Hernandez' Sparring Partner
Rogue Johnston	...	Montage Opponent (as Rogue Johnson)
Paul Lawrie	...	Montage Opponent
Donovan Boucher	...	Montage Opponent
Martin Van Zanten	...	Montage Opponent
Edwin DeLeon	...	Montage Opponent
Chad Keens-Douglas	...	Montage Opponent
Michael A. Amos	...	Montage Opponent (as Michael Amos)
Anthony Ferri	...	Montage Opponent
Joseph Richardson	...	Montage Opponent
Everol Carty	...	Montage Opponent
Derek Bujalski	...	Montage Opponent
Michael Dion	...	DJ at Strip Club
Adrian Teodorescu	...	Referee
Alwin Mascoll	...	Interviewed Boxer
Peter Wylie	...	Miami Referee
Dave Dunbar	...	Philadelphia Referee
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Gillian Leigh	...	Hottub Girl (scenes deleted)
Lisa MacKay	...	Hottub Girl (scenes deleted)
Todd Bendera	...	Boxing Spectator (uncredited)
Keith Carr	...	Extra (uncredited)
Jef Etters	...	Extra (uncredited)
Patrick Ezerzer	...	Boxing Trainer (uncredited)
Jessica Irvine	...	Boxer's Girlfriend (uncredited)
Denver Jade	...	Extra (uncredited)
John Kalbhenn	...	Referee (uncredited)
Danny Lentz	...	Police Detective (uncredited)
Marc Lupish	...	Extra (uncredited)
Paul Mota	...	Bar Patron (uncredited)
Sarah Scotford	...	Stripper (uncredited)
A.J. Verel	...	LaRocca Bodyguard (uncredited)

Directed by
Charles S. Dutton

Writing credits (WGA)
Jackie Kallen		(life)
Cheryl Edwards		(written by)

Produced by
Robert W. Cort	....	producer
Mike Drake	....	co-producer
Jackie Kallen	....	associate producer
Scarlett Lacey	....	executive producer
David Madden	....	producer
Jonathan Pillot	....	executive producer
Steven Roffer	....	executive producer
Sharon Seto	....	field producer: EPK

Original Music by
Michael Kamen

Cinematography by
Jack N. Green

Film Editing by
Eric L. Beason

Casting by
Tina Gerussi
Avy Kaufman

Production Design by
Sandra Kybartas

Art Direction by
Armando Sgrignuoli

Set Decoration by
Steven Essam

Costume Design by
Ruth E. Carter

Makeup Department
Renee Chan	....	assistant hair stylist
Veronica Ciandre	....	hair stylist
Alan D'Angerio	....	hair styles designer: Ms. Ryan (as Alan Dangerio)
Linda Dowds	....	makeup artist
Robert C. Mathews III	....	hair stylist: Mr. Epps
Elaine L. Offers	....	makeup artist: Ms. Ryan (as Elaine Offers)
Rita Pacitto	....	second assistant hair stylist
Dorota Zajac	....	assistant makeup artist

Production Management
Lyn Lucibello	....	unit production manager
Karyn McCarthy	....	production manager: USA

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Genevieve Anthony	....	assistant director
Sarah Campbell	....	second assistant director
Richard Cowan	....	first assistant director
Matt Hunwicks	....	trainee assistant director
Don H. Julien	....	second assistant director: Cleveland
Joanna Moore	....	third assistant director
Deborah Marsh	....	assistant director: set (uncredited)

Art Department
Tory Bellingham	....	property master
Kelly Brine	....	storyboard artist
Paula D. Collins	....	on-set dresser
Robert DeSue	....	set dresser
Alexander Galant	....	assistant art director
James A. Gelarden	....	art director: US
Kenneth J. Kellers	....	leadman
Matthew Lammerich	....	key scenic artist
Erin Leslie	....	scenic artist
Aaron Morrison	....	assistant art director
Jeff Poulis	....	assistant property master
Erika Rice	....	props buyer
Dawn Rivard	....	set decoration buyer
Diana Stoughton	....	set decorator: Cleveland
Donald Vandewater	....	construction coordinator

Sound Department
Jonathan Andrews	....	boom operator
Bruce Carwardine	....	production sound mixer
Pat Cassin	....	second boom operator
David E. Fluhr	....	sound re-recording mixer
Gabriel Guy	....	sound recordist
Brian W. Jennings	....	sound effects editor
Jon Johnson	....	supervising sound editor
Ryan Juggler	....	assistant sound editor
Susan Kurtz	....	dialog editor
Susan Kurtz	....	sound editor
William Levins	....	sound editor
Charles Maynes	....	sound effects editor
Christian P. Minkler	....	sound re-recording mixer
Angelo Palazzo	....	sound editor
Michael Paterson	....	daily sound transferer
Eliza Pollack Zebert	....	adr editor
Vic Radulich	....	adr editor
Miguel Rivera	....	supervising sound editor
Randy Singer	....	foley mixer
Brad Sokol	....	assistant sound editor
Greg Steele	....	adr mixer
Bruce Stubblefield	....	sound editor
Mike Szakmeister	....	supervising dialogue editor
Robert Troy	....	dialogue editor
Robert Ulrich	....	supervising adr editor
Markus Wade	....	boom operator
James Wright	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby Stereo

Special Effects by
Keith Baur	....	special effects crew
John MacGillivray	....	special effects coordinator
Boyd Martin	....	special effects foreman
Richard Rivera	....	special effects coordinator
Rob Sanderson	....	special effects foreman

Visual Effects by
Bret Culp	....	on-set supervisor
Paul DeOliveira	....	digital compositor
Steven Fagerquist	....	digital compositor
Maria A. Gordon	....	digital compositor
Peter Koczera	....	senior digital artist
Derek Ledbetter	....	compositor
Bob Munroe	....	visual effects supervisor (as Robert Munroe)
Ken Ouellette	....	2D paint artist: C.O.R.E. Digital Pictures
Ken Ouellette	....	compositor: C.O.R.E. Digital Pictures
Brian A. Smeets	....	digital compositor
Ken D. Smith	....	digital efx producer
Jay Stanners	....	digital effects artist
Martin Tori	....	on set visual effects supervisor
Tracey Vaz	....	lead 2D compositor: C.O.R.E. Digital Pictures
Marnie Wells	....	digital compositor
Alphonso Young	....	digital compositor
Louis Kim	....	digital compositor: CORE Digital Pictures (uncredited)

Stunts
Nick Alachiotis	....	stunts
Roy T. Anderson	....	stunt coordinator
Rogue Johnston	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Mark Beauchamp	....	second assistant camera
Pierre Berube	....	best boy rigging electric
Kevin Boyd	....	key video assist operator: Cleveland
Craig Bulmer	....	electrician
Glenn Cannon	....	video assist operator
Michael Carella	....	camera operator
Ian Carmody	....	electrician
Trevor Carroll-Coe	....	film loader: Cleveland
Joe Cassano	....	grip: Cleveland
Bill Coe	....	first assistant camera: Cleveland
Angelo Colavecchia	....	camera operator
John Colavecchia	....	assistant camera
Kiely Cronin	....	second assistant camera: "d" camera
Tim Davis	....	video assist operator
Jeff Fisher	....	electrician
Howard Galbraith Jr.	....	best boy
Howard Galbraith	....	best boy (as Howie Galbraith)
Michael Galbraith	....	gaffer
Ben Gervais	....	camera operator: video
Ben Gervais	....	playback operator
Glen Goodchild	....	best boy grip
Wayne Goodchild	....	key grip
Greg Grainger	....	grip
Peter N. Green	....	first assistant camera: USA
Ryan Green	....	camera operator
Jeff Heintzman	....	grip
Mark Hryma	....	camera operator: Wescam camera
Dan Jarrell	....	grip
Jim Krauter	....	dolly grip
Julie 'Doc' Lindstrom	....	electrician: Cleveland
Bobby McMahan	....	second assistant camera: Cleveland
Clyde Miller	....	assistant camera: Wescam camera
Charles Moore	....	grip
Keith Nickoson	....	company grip
Michael Plant	....	generator operator
Ron Renzetti	....	dolly grip
Davidson Tate	....	rigging gaffer
Ron Zabarsky	....	electrician

Casting Department
Jessica Daniels	....	casting assistant
Amanda L. Preputnik	....	extras casting
Lillian Pyles	....	casting: Cleveland
Maureen Whalen	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Elayne Alexander	....	wardrobe key set
Catherine Ashton	....	assistant costume designer
Renée Bravener	....	costumer: Ms. Ryan
Lois DeArmond	....	costume illustrator
Jay Du Boisson	....	costume supervisor
Mia Sturup	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Diane Brunjes Robb	....	assistant editor (as Diane Brunjes)
Paul Covington	....	assistant editor
Donald Freeman	....	final colorist
Jim Passon	....	color timer
Brigitte Rabazo	....	first assistant editor: Canada
Mark Rathaus	....	first assistant editor
Dennis Thorlaksen	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Tom Boyd	....	musician: oboe soloist
Peter Boyer	....	orchestrator
James Seymour Brett	....	music co-producer
Johnny Caruso	....	music editor
Debbi Datz-Pyle	....	orchestra contractor
Robert Elhai	....	orchestrator
Joel Franklin	....	music preparation
Joel Iwataki	....	music scoring mixer
Blake Neely	....	orchestrator
Curtis Roush	....	music editor
Jonathan Sacks	....	orchestrator
Brad Warnaar	....	orchestrator

Transportation Department
Marc Scott	....	transportation coordinator
Robert Tenaglia	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Julie Adams	....	dialect consultant: Ms. Meg Ryan
Leslie Adler	....	assistant: Ms. Ryan
Nick Alachiotis	....	assistant boxing choreographer
Gerry Alfonso	....	payroll accountant
Kate Amer	....	production coordinator
Roy T. Anderson	....	boxing choreographer
John 'Frenchie' Berger	....	armorer
Kevin Berman	....	consultant
Peter Bird	....	production assistant
Linda Blaine	....	production assistant
Michelle Breger	....	assistant production coordinator: USA
Chad Bronson	....	production assistant
Adrienne Brown	....	production assistant
Matt Cahill	....	location scout
Alex Capaldi	....	production office assistant
Anthony Carovillano	....	craft service
Keith Carr	....	production assistant
Brian Dickson	....	production assistant
Larry Donahue	....	caterer
Kevin Drysdale	....	production assistant
Rita Duffey	....	locations: Miami
Ava DuVernay	....	promotional services
Jef Etters	....	production assistant
Joe Everett	....	unit publicist
Jay Floyd	....	clearance administrator
Cheryl Francis	....	assistant: Mr. Dutton
Artis I. Gaines	....	assistant location manager
Jennifer Ganton	....	production secretary
Christina Grozik	....	film commissioner
Leigh Ann Hayes	....	assistant: Ms. Ryan
Paul Hiscock	....	assistant: Ms. Ryan (as Paul R. Hiscock)
Will Hoddinott	....	location manager
Daniel Horvat	....	first assistant production accountant
Don J. Hug	....	location manager: USA
Gregory Katz	....	assistant location manager
Allen Kellogg	....	production assistant
Shannonn Kelly	....	production assistant: uncredited
Matthew Kosoy	....	assistant: Mr. Drake
Mark McFadden	....	assistant location manager
Mark Moore	....	location scout
Amanda L. Preputnik	....	extras wrangler
Anna Rane	....	script supervisor
Robin M. Reelis	....	assistant production coordinator
James Renner	....	production assistant
Glen Richard	....	production auditor
Jennifer K. Rosner	....	assistant: Mr. Madden (as Jennifer Rosner)
Todd SanSone	....	production assistant: Cleveland
Nina Saxon	....	title designer
Tasha Smith	....	assistant: Mr. Dutton
Vess Stoeva	....	assistant accountant
Shadeed Suluki	....	trainer: Mr. Epps
Matthew T.	....	production assistant
Debbie Tieman	....	first assistant accountant
Dave Tommasini	....	helicopter pilot
Lora Umphress	....	payroll accountant: Cleveland
Cherokee Walker	....	helicopter pilot
Becky Woodward	....	production assistant
Mimi Zora	....	assistant: Mr. Cort
Jeremy Rubolino	....	assistant: Michael Kamen (uncredited)

Production Companies

• ATR Films
• Cort/Madden Productions
• MMP Erste Filmproduktions
• Moviemakers Productions (MMP)
• Paramount Pictures

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (2004) (USA) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2004) (Germany) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2004) (Spain) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2004) (Italy) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2004) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (2004) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2004) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Net5 (2007) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing)
• Paramount Filmes do Brasil (2004) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Paramount Filmes do Brasil (2004) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2004) (Argentina) (all media)

Special Effects

• C.O.R.E. Digital Pictures (digital visual effects)

Other Companies

• C.O.R.E. Digital Pictures  opticals
• Central Casting  extras casting
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies
• DeLuxe Laboratories  color timing
• Dolce & Gabbana  thanks
• Eric Stonerook Music  music preparation
• Fury & Grace Digital  digital sound editing (as Fury & Grace)
• HBO Sports  special thanks
• Home Box Office (HBO)  special thanks
• Howard Anderson Company, The  opticals
• Lightnin' Production Rentals  transportation equipment
• Mary Nelson-Fraser & Associates  negative cutting (as Mary Nelson Fraser and Associates)
• Nina Saxon Film Design  titles designed by
• Panavision  camera and lenses
• Paramount Studios  digital sound editing (as Paramount Pictures)
• Todd-AO Studios  sound re-recording
• Toronto Film Studios  movie studio
• Wescam USA  Wescam cameras provided by (as Wescam)

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for crude language, violence, brief sensuality and some drug material

Runtime:

USA:111 min

Country:

USA | Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Malaysia:U | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Finland:K-15 | Germany:12 | Netherlands:12 | Norway:15 | Singapore:NC-16 | UK:12A | USA:PG-13 (certificate #39517) | Iceland:12

Filming Locations:

Cleveland, Ohio, USA

Company:

ATR Films

Trivia:

Michelle Pfeiffer turned down the chance to star in this film because the actress was at the time was in the process of relocating her family to Northern California.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Luther is having dinner with Jackie, he picks up his napkin twice.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Fear of Clowns (2004) (V)

Soundtrack:

Wang Dang Doodle

An Erin Brockovich Boxing Movie

Meg Ryan plays a Jewish woman from Detroit who strives to become a successful boxing manager despite facing many obstacles, including an unscrupulous boxing promoter, played by Tony Shalhoub. Against the Ropes looks at the relationship between Kallen and her first professional boxer, played by Omar Epps.

Against the Ropes is your typical Lifetime movie of the week feature that somehow made it to theaters. It had nice intentions but the film is not very good or strong. The story is very uninspired and it reminded me of Erin Brockovich. Against the Ropes tried too hard to be like Erin Brockovich and other boxing films without really being its own film. Also, most of the film is pretty dull and there are no real good performances. Meg Ryan is okay as Jackie Kallen. She was a little weak in the dramatic scenes and sometimes her emotions felt really fake. Her outfits were really trashy and this took away from her already less than stellar performance.

Meg Ryan is paired up with Omar Epps and he gives a decent performance. However, his chemistry with Meg is really weak. This hurts the film a lot since the whole movie was basically their relationship. Tony Shalhoub gives an okay performance but there really wasn't a lot for his character to do. Charles S. Dutton gives an okay performance as Felix. Again, there really wasn't much for his character to do. Dutton also directs the film and he does an okay job. He could have developed the characters a little more and he could have done a better job at capturing the relationship between Jackie and Luther. The film is very predictable and very simple. The boxing scenes are good but they pale in comparison to other boxing films like Rocky. In the end, this really is a weak film that's not worth watching. Rating 4/10