FIGHTING

US, 2009, 105 minutes, Colour.
Channing Tatum, Terrence Howard, Luis Guzman, Zulay Henao, Brian White.
Directed by Dito Montiel.

The title tells it. The fighting is bareknuckle confrontations that draw city crowds to clandestine locations with huge bets made. There is some background story but it is familiar material: the young man who is down on his luck, the promotor who becomes an alternate father-figure, the chance encounter with a girl (a single mother) who has some secrets, the rivalry with an opponent from college days, home resentments, build-up to a tough bout and some twists about money. If that appeals, then Fighting is your film. If not, not.

Writer Dito Monteil made an autobiographical film about growing up in Queens, New York City in the 1980s, A Guide to Recognising Your Saints. He obviously knows the tougher sides of the city. He makes Manhattan something of a character in this film. The performers are Channing Tatum who makes the central character credible enough as a person and as a fighter. The promoter is played by Terrence Howard in a typical performance. There are assorted bookmakers, gangsters and a scene stealing Hispanic grandmother who has definite ideas about everything.

More moderate than it might have been.

1.The title? The fights? The background of fighting, bare-knuckle, the audience, the bets, big business?

2.The New York settings, the city streets, the sense of realism? Radio City Music Hall, the buildings? The apartments? The clubs? The locations for the fights? The musical score?

3.The sense of realism with the characters, their behaviour, the fighting, the dialogue? How strong – and involving the audience or the audience just being observers?

4.Shawn, his arrival on Fifth Avenue, the sales, the Harry Potter fake? The people taking the goods and not paying properly? Harvey observing him? The other people watching? His exasperation, chasing the robbers? Going to the subway, people streaming through the exit gate as he held it open? His going to the Asian cellar, buying the umbrellas, the rain? The later information about his background, from Alabama, the clashes with his father, the coach? His fight with his father – and the information on the internet?

5.Harvey, selling theatre tickets? Observing Shawn? The later encounter, his discussions with him, offering him the money? His impression of the fights in the street that Shawn had with the thieves?

6.His making an offer to Shawn, Harvey taking him to the entrepreneurs? The set-up, the first fight, the Russian, the crowd, Shawn being beaten, his forcing the opponent into the basin, knocking him out? The money?

7.The celebration at the club, the chance meeting with Zulay, her having tried to buy the Harry Potter book? His talking with her in the club? Following her, paying the taxi? Their later meetings, going to her home, the humorous encounters with her Hispanic grandmother, the strong-minded talk? Her daughter? The relationship? The irony that she worked for Harvey, placing his bets, Shawn being upset? Her collecting the money, placing the bets?

8.The entrepreneurs, Jack, his associates? Martinez and his connections? Their attitude towards Harvey? Harvey, the coat, making sure that Shawn was well dressed?

9.The second fight, the Asian, the Asian audience? Shawn losing, then winning? His tactics?

10.The final offer for the big fight, his clashes with Evan Hailey? Meeting at the club, Hailey’s condescension towards Shawn? The background, their both being on the college team, Shawn’s father and his favouring Evan? The fight?

11.The build-up to the final fight, Shawn and his training in the subway? Harvey and his wanting Shawn to lose? Betting against him? Shawn’s agreement? Jack and the other entrepreneurs, their huge bets? Zulay and her placing the bet for Harvey?

12.The fight itself, the animosity of the two, the fight around the building, the audience watching? Shawn’s winning?

13.The collection of the money? Martinez telling Harvey he was a dead man? The irony of Shawn and Zulay betting that he would win? The million dollars? Harvey’s decision? Their driving away to California?

14.Familiar theme? The underdog and winning? Betting? The possibilities for a new life?