The Boxer

Name: The Boxer
Genre: Drama, Sport
Released: December 31, 1997
Duration: 113 min
Rating: 75

1997

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 19 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 18 Ratings

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7.4

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7.4	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 18 Ratings

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The Boxer

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Movie Details & Credits

MCA/Universal Pictures | Release Date: December 31, 1997 | R

Summary: Star-crossed lovers (Lewis, Watson) are torn between unquestioning loyalty to the ties of tradition and the passion they share in this film set in 1990s Belfast, torn apart by years of religious conflict and IRA violence.
(Universal)

Director: Jim Sheridan

Genre(s): Drama, Sport

Rating: R

Runtime: 113 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Edward Guthmann

It's a tribute to Day-Lewis that he can play a character like Danny -- cautious, withdrawn, inarticulate -- and endow him an eloquence and grace that aren't dependent on language. Without him, The Boxer might still be a powerful tale of loyalty and love, with a core of moral complexity; with Day-Lewis in the lead, it approaches greatness. Read full review

Janet Maslin

Mr. Day-Lewis, looking wearily rugged and battling his way through several plausible boxing matches, once again breathes fire into the character of a high-minded loner, and his vitality lends real force to the film's moral arguments. Read full review

Charles Taylor

In some ways, this is the most conventional of Sheridan's movies. But it never feels sentimental because of the grittiness of his approach. Read full review

James Berardinelli

The two actors, Daniel Day-Lewis and Emily Watson (Breaking the Waves), give such forceful performances and interact so well that it's impossible not to be mesmerized by their interaction. Read full review

Dallas Observer Peter Rainer

It can't compare to what might have been: a full-scale performance by Daniel Day-Lewis as an Irish raging bull--a rebel with a cause. There are still traces of greatness in what he attempts, and it's more than enough to make the movie worth a lingering look. Read full review

Todd McCarthy

Intelligently conceived and well- acted, this compact, straightforward drama about two ordinary people caught in the ongoing political crossfire packs enough punch to command audience interest, but won't light up critics or the B.O. to the extent achieved by the team's previous outings, "My Left Foot" and "In the Name of the Father." Read full review

Barbara Shulgasser

Most disappointing is the fact that the movie ends so abruptly that you can't help wondering what the whole story amounts to, moving as it is. Read full review

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User Reviews

TTW107

Dec 25, 2011

I had to watch this for an Ireland Culture class and I was not looking forward to it at all. To my surprise this is a very gripping film. It really makes you think how screwed up Ireland was during the troubles and the hardships of life with so much violence and corruption in NorthernI had to watch this for an Ireland Culture class and I was not looking forward to it at all. To my surprise this is a very gripping film. It really makes you think how screwed up Ireland was during the troubles and the hardships of life with so much violence and corruption in Northern Ireland. If you are looking to learn more about Ireland I highly recommend this movie.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

Spangle

Feb 14, 2014

Classic Daniel Day-Lewis. Every film I watch with him in it is made infinitely better because of his amazing performance. Literally, the guy never disappoints. As for the film itself, it was very enjoyable and riveting. It had a nice build-up to key, intense scenes and then a slight dropClassic Daniel Day-Lewis. Every film I watch with him in it is made infinitely better because of his amazing performance. Literally, the guy never disappoints. As for the film itself, it was very enjoyable and riveting. It had a nice build-up to key, intense scenes and then a slight drop off, before another build up to an even more intense scene. It may be called "The Boxer", but as is made evident in the film, this one is about a lot more than boxing. If this and "In the Name of the Father" are any example, Jim Sheridan knows his way around a riveting film about the IRA and all of the things that come with that.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

amheretojudge

Apr 2, 2019

A Love Punch.

The Boxer Sheridan's sport drama isn't sporty at all. There is definitely hard work in here, but all the guns are aimed towards the aspiration of creating a big wallop of emotional drama that swoops in every political satire in this romantic tale. Now, as you can see, this isA Love Punch.

The Boxer

Sheridan's sport drama isn't sporty at all. There is definitely hard work in here, but all the guns are aimed towards the aspiration of creating a big wallop of emotional drama that swoops in every political satire in this romantic tale. Now, as you can see, this is a culmination of multiple genre and unfortunately only romance soars above all. The reason being, an amazing lead cast, if Daniel Day Lewis is amiable to the tears of Emily Watson, then so is she to his gut wrenching punches. Combining it, they make one good cinematic couple facing and running away from their past. Fortunately, to cover in all the grounds, the film doesn't just focus on their perspective, the supporting characters too consume the screen time for the justification of their deeds.

Take Brian Cox for instance, his character that never helms charge in the film up till the last act, may seem like your average set up of a pawn-like stereotypical antagonist with money and power in his hand. Another surprising package that keeps giving us is Emily's nuanced performance that gets in on the ring through practical insertions like a fearful mother and a wife and more importantly an adolescent lover that as a past haunts her.

And in the end, it is all for the man himself, Daniel who is there in the ring himself, struggling and resisting his love towards Emily and a dodgy familiar arena that he adores and calls "home". Jim Sheridan, the co-writer and director, is often milking stuff, among this two hour of journey, there is somewhere a good one hour film that needed a better coaching. The Boxer is a hot headed fellow, easily swooned in and boiled up, unfortunately the makers couldn't manipulate it better to make it survive the 12th round.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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23	#23 Best Movie of 1997
86	#86 Most Discussed Movie of 1997
80	#80 Most Shared Movie of 1997