GRUDGE MATCH
US, 2014, 130 minutes, Colour.
Sylvester Stallone, Robert De Niro, Kim Basinger, Alan Arkin, Jon Bernthal, LL Cool J, Barry Primus, Paul Ben- Victor.
Directed by Peter Segal.
A grudge match is always a potentially good idea for a film. What about two major stars whose career span his at least 40 years? And so, somebody remembered Rocky and Raging Bull. And so, here is Sylvester Stallone versus Robert De Niro. And the images during the film from their two famous bouts, De Niro winning an Oscar for his portrayal of Jake La Motta in Raging Ball and Stallone being immortalised as Rocky.
Whether the person who thought up this idea is the same as the agent in the film, played with his usual frenetic energy (and potential for irritation, witness Alan Arkin and his responses in the film) by Kevin Hart, it was a persuasive idea. A back story was necessary, so there has been a 30 year rivalry between the two men, one going on to work in a factory (Stallone) and other opening a popular club (De Niro). The plot has to rely on a female lead and some rivalry in this regard, Kim Basinger playing the wife, stupidly unfaithful to Stallone and marrying, without love, De Niro, producing a son who himself has a son. Plenty of family themes.
The issue of the training and coach comes up, De Niro presuming on the son of an old friend but eventually relying on his own son. Stallone has kept in touch with his old coach, Alan Arkin, and has financed his care as he has grown older.
While Stallone’s character has some defects, especially the isolation which separated him from his girlfriend at the time, he is much more sympathetic than De Niro’s character.
We have scenes of rivalry, plenty of scenes of rekindling adult romance, plenty of scenes indicating what a louse De Niro really is, plenty of scenes of training. Which leads to some tension in the final fight, Stallone and injury, the son appealing to his father, De Niro, to act honourably.
Then there is a very amusing joke during the final credits with Kevin Hart as the agent trying to persuade Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield (memories of the ear-biting situation) to have a grudge match.
1. An entertainment? The stars, theme of age, boxing, rivalry?
2. Pittsburgh, the city, homes, clubs, gyms, sporting venues? Ordinary life? The songs? Musical score?
3. The title, television footage introduction to the characters, history, boxing, rivalry, 1980s?
4. The flashbacks? The images of Rocky? Images of Raging Ball? The fights, the motivations, wins and losses, Sally, Lightning?
5. The idea for the return bout? The agent, his patter, the bad reputation of his father, the proposal, the appeal to each of the fighters, their negative reactions, cash, participation in the video game, meeting at the studio, their costumes, fighting, in jail? The promotion of the match? The agent, getting his new car, his clash with the girls, the phone calls, present at the advertising and press conference?
6. Razor and his story, Sylvester Stallone, age, his life, experience, the fights, his love for Sally, for Lightning, looking after him, paying for his accommodation? The separation from Sally, his feelings for 30 years? His work, the factory, creating the ironwork statues?
7. Kid, Robert De Niro, his age, the marriage to Sally, not a good father, his son and grandson, the club, his performances?
8. Lightning, his being a hard case, friendship with Razor, Razor’s care for him, his bad mouth, coaching, support? The final joke about the hearing aid?
9. The press conference, few attending, the wisecracks? The promotions, the advertising? The interviews, presence at the mixed fighting about and their criticisms of it, punching out the fighter?
10. Razor, the tough regime, the training, the phone call to Sally, the two of them talking, the explanations of what had happened, his opting out, her foolishness and going with Kid? Lacking sight in his left eye? Withdrawing from the bout? Lightning delivering the news to the agent – and his reaction?
11. Kid, his son, coaching him? The visitor with Frankie, memories of his father, knocking him out? The grandson, the bond, going out with Sally and the family? Taking the grandson to the club, dancing with the girl, sex in the back of the car, the brakes, the crash, the police, in jail, Bailed? the fight itself, the introductions, the many rounds, choreography of the fighting, Razor and his sight, Kid and his son urging him to do what was right? The win to Razor by a point and judges’ decision?
12. Themes of age, achievement, resolution of past conflicts?
