GLADIATOR

US, 1992, 98 minutes, Colour.
Cuba Gooding Jr, James Marshall, Brian Dennehy, Robert Loggia, Ossie Davis, John Heard.
Directed by Rowdy Herrington.

Gladiator is a '90s boxing film, some of the echoes of Rocky, but far more concern with management corruption, brutality and race relationships.

The film is directed by Rowdy Herrington (Jack's Back, Roadhouse). It has very strong boxing sequences - which may be too strong for average audiences. However, the focus is on a young white man (James Marshall), his absent father, trying to get an education, the pressure of his father's debts, his strong fist - and his being taken up for boxing. He meets a black friend (Cuba Gooding Jnr, The Boys in the Hood) and confronts black gangs in Chicago.

However, it is the corrupt boxing management in the city and his confrontation with the head, Horne (Brian Dennehy), which brings him to make decisions about his future, friendship, boxing. While there are many stereotypes, the earnestness of the message about race relationships and about boxing give the film a message tone. The film is particularly strong in its supporting cast. Not only is Brian Dennehy present, but John Hurd is the father, Ossie Davis is the coach, Robert Loggia is the hustler for the boxing management.

1. America in the '90s? Chicago and the poorer suburbs? Race issues, education, youth, money, sport?

2. Chicago in the winter, the poorer suburbs, school, apartments, gymnasium, boxing arena? The musical score and songs?

3. The title and expectations, the lyrics of the credits song? Sport, fighting, heroism, life and death?

4. Black and white race issues of the '90s? In the Chicago slums, the gangs, the blacks and the hatred of whites, white dominance? Blacks as used, poverty? The ordinary citizens, the exploiters? Good and bad in both black and white?

5. Tom, quiet manner, the initial walk, the clash with the blacks, going to school, his intelligence and answers about Mark Twain, silent and an observer, not wanting to fight the blacks? At home, the death of his mother, his father's drinking and gambling, his absence? The feeling for his father? The thugs demanding the money? The clash with the black gangs? The friendship with Dawn at school, her getting him the job, the dishwashing? The confrontation at the diner, his strong fist? Jack and his observing, offering Tom the money, his wanting to get the money to pay his father's debts? The interview with Horne, the contract, the fighting and his win? His meeting with the coach, his experience, sympathy, friendship - and black? The advice about boxing being in the mind rather than being angry and aggressive? Winning, the money, the decision not to fight?

6. Tom's relationship with his father, their life together, poverty, debts? The talking with his father, the distance, the gambling - the later phone call and his father's not returning? Managing with an absent father?

7. The friendship with Dawn, class, the diner? Her disappointment in his boxing, not coming to school? Her support and understanding, the relationship? Going to the final fight and the pressure from Horne? Dawn's parents and their work, the diner, care for her, their daughter?

8. The coach and his experience, the black man and his attitude towards Horne and Jack, towards the boxers? Liking Tom, his wisdom and advice, the mind rather than aggression? His continued support?

9. Papa Jack and his style, the phone, hard talk, always irritable? Pressure? On the lookout for talent? Seeing Tom, the proposition, the bargaining, the contract? His relationship with Horne? Horne's pressure to get Tom? His checking about the father's debts, Horne buying them off, hold over Tom? Jack's loyalties, dirty money to the police?

10. Horne, tough, the background of his fighting, his injury? His girlfriend? The dirty money? Cruel, the bout with the black boxer and knocking him out? His hold over Jack? His backing Tommy, wanting him to be his successor? Getting Jack to find out the hold he could get? Buying up his father's debts? The betting? The training, the setting up of Tom to fight Lincoln? His callous disregard of Lincoln's injury? The final bout, his angers? The confrontation with Tom, the bet, dirty fighting, bare-knuckle? His being defeated by Tom? The symbol of corruption and greed?

11. The background of the black street gangs, the members, banding together, fights, expulsions from school, on the school grounds? The authorities having to break up fights? The attack on Lincoln, Tommy saving him, their running away - and the bond between them? The blacks in class, defiance - but subjugated by the black teachers? Lincoln and his story, his wife and child? The black fighters? The killer fighter, the clash with the Cuban, his blinding and virtually killing him? Callous attitude? Tom's fight with him and the defeat? Lincoln and his success, hopes? The head injury? His wanting to fight Tom to get the money? Urging him on - but persuaded by Tom? The break-up of the bout? The bond of friendship?

12. The young Cuban, his skill in boxing, dancing style, his dreams of wealth, buying Tom the cap, his clothes - his injury and hospitalisation?

13. Tom and his being held by Horne, his sense of responsibility, hopes for college? The relationship with Dawn and her support? Friendship with Lincoln after saving him? The clashes with Horne, the confrontations? The boxing practice, the bouts, his rage, his friendship with the Cuban and the Cuban in hospital? The violent bout with his killer? The coach and his persuading him to use his mind rather than rage? The fight with Lincoln, his not wanting to fight him, avoiding hitting Lincoln's head? The stand-off? The challenge to Horne, bare fist? Pretending that he was weak, Horne and his arrogance, defeating him?

14. The popularity of boxing films and the tradition of boxing films? Sport, skills, money? The themes of brutality in sport, greed? The context of the racial situation between black and white in Chicago?