Resurrecting the Champ (2007)

Director:

Rod Lurie

Writers (WGA):

Michael Bortman (screenplay) and
Allison Burnett (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

24 August 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Sport

Tagline:

Based on a true story, that was based on a lie.

Plot:

Up-and-coming sports reporter rescues a homeless man ("Champ") only to discover that he is, in fact, a boxing legend believed to have passed away. What begins as an opportunity to resurrect Champ's story and escape the shadow of his father's success becomes a personal journey as the ambitious reporter reexamines his own life and his relationship with his family. |

Plot Keywords:

Reporter | Homeless Man | Boxing | Marital Separation | Separated

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Samuel L. Jackson	...	Champ
Josh Hartnett	...	Erik Kernan Jr.
Kathryn Morris	...	Joyce Kernan
Dakota Goyo	...	Teddy Kernan
Alan Alda	...	Ralph Metz
Rachel Nichols	...	Polly
Teri Hatcher	...	Andrea Flak
Kristen Shaw	...	Perlmutter
Nick Sandow	...	Marciano
David Paymer	...	Whitley
Harry Lennix	...	Bob Satterfield Jr.
Peter Coyote	...	Ike Epstein
Ryan McDonald	...	Kenny
Chris Ippolito	...	Jaws
Jameson Trenholm	...	Runt

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some violence and brief language.

Runtime:

112 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

USA:PG-13 | Singapore:PG | Finland:K-11 | Singapore:M18 (DVD rating)

Filming Locations:

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Company:

Phoenix Pictures

Trivia:

The story was inspired by the article "Resurrecting the Champ" by J.R. Moehringer which appeared in the Los Angeles Times Magazine in 1997; although the article indeed purportedly focused on Bob Satterfield, there are various other differences with the true story. Moehringer had no children, and his father was not well-known though he did abandon his family when the writer was an infant.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Erik leaves Champ at the house they were conversing in front of, Champ is shown standing on the curb as he contemplates knocking on the door of the house. Then, as Erik is driving away, he looks into his rear-view mirror, and Champ is instantly shown standing in the middle of the street instead of on the curb.

Quotes:

Erik Kernan Jr.: [Sees the youths beating up Champ] Hey! What the hell!
Youth: [Runs past him, laughing] I just beat the Champ!

Movie Connections:

References "Dexter" (2006)

Soundtrack:

Babe I Like Your Walk

One of the best films since "The Shawshank Redemption"

I had the privilege of seeing an advance screening of "Resurrecting the Champ" earlier tonight, followed by a Q & A with director Rod Lurie and screenwriter Michael Bortman. This is an extraordinary motion pictures. In my opinion, this film has the best writing, characterization and dramatic construction of any film released so far this year. The performances are stellar across the board, with a special mention to the film's leads, Josh Hartnett and Sam Jackson. Hartnett's character is torn between his ambition as an up and coming investigative journalist and his integrity as a man, a husband, a father and a son. Jackson plays "Champ", a one-time up and coming boxer who climbs the ranks to #3 in the world, to eventually be reduced to a homeless man scaling the trash cans of Denver.

Hartnett and Jackson create an unexpected friendship in his quest to write a magazine article about the journey of this man's forgotten life. Along the way, the film explores the themes of integrity, honesty, vulnerability, authenticity, truth, consequence, and family is an entertaining, emotional and significant fashion. The entire film breathes energy into the value and importance of responsibility and trust, and how abusing them can lead to consequences that can only be cured by forgiveness and a re-commitment to being true to one's character. The way that Hartnett's characters comes to understand the damages he could do to his relationship with his son, by living through it with champ is powerful and a important lesson for all parents.

I truly hope this film gets the respect and attention it deserves from critics and audiences alike. Comes Oscar time, I would come to expect "Resurrecting the Champ" to be on the minds of many. When it comes to films that you can sense the passion and heart of the storytelling being present in every frame, this one is near the top of that list. 10/10!