Beautiful Boxer
Regent Releasing | Release Date: January 21, 2005 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
66
METASCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 14 Critic Reviews
Positive:
11
Mixed:
3
Negative:
0
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
90
Los Angeles TimesKevin Thomas
This altogether remarkable film is as much of a paradox as Nong Toom: at once poetic and sensitive yet as gritty and hard-hitting as any boxing movie. Read full review
80
The Hollywood ReporterMichael Rechtshaffen
Ekachai's film takes a more compassionate view of its subject and boasts a dynamic performance by real-life kickboxer Asanee Suwan. Read full review
80
Film ThreatJames Wegg
A magical vision of the ring of the imagination. Read full review
75
San Francisco ChronicleCarla Meyer
Unique. Read full review
75
New York PostV.A. Musetto
An intelligent work that avoids exploitation and cheap laughs. Read full review
70
Chicago ReaderHank Sartin
Uekrongtham handles the material with reasonable restraint, and you can't help but cheer on the hero. Read full review
70
VarietyRussell Edwards
Sweetly entertaining but bland biopic. Read full review
70
TV Guide MagazineKen Fox
Like his intrepid hero, theater-turned-film director Ekachai Uekrongtham never misses an opportunity to brighten an otherwise ordinary palette with just a bit more color. Read full review
70
The A.V. ClubTasha Robinson
Uekrongtham films the saga in gorgeous style. Read full review
67
Seattle Post-IntelligencerPaula Nechak
Rich with insight and cinematic style and beauty, the film tells a uniquely moving and inspiring story. Unfortunately, it takes some stamina to distill its message from its overly long, overindulgent love affair with itself. Read full review
63
New York Daily NewsElizabeth Weitzman
Though a bit long and occasionally ­awkward, this drama ultimately does ­justice to its inspiration - the true-life tale of boxer-turned-transsexual Nong Toom. Read full review
60
L.A. WeeklyChuck Wilson
It’s a good story, and Uekrongtham, making his feature debut, captures the camaraderie of camp life and the subsequent matches with the panache of a veteran studio hand, but the insights into Toom's psyche never extend past the fun he has applying powder and eyeliner. Read full review
60
The New York TimesLawrence Van Gelder
A rare hybrid: an underdog sports picture that's also a transgender fairy tale. Read full review
50
Village VoiceChuck Stephens
Those in search of a liberating treatise about empowered sexuality may find too much of the movie's erotic potential sublimated in sports metaphors, while those looking for a martial arts matinee will find its feats of physical prowess shriveled next to a fully engorged genre workout like "Ong-Bak." Read full review
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