LeonLouisRicci Ambitious to a Fault, Cramming a Number of Subjects into an Overcrowded Ring filled with Politics, Humanity, Rags to Riches, Boxing History, Boxing Strategy, World Stage Rivalry, Hero Worship, Family Bonding, all in a Clench with Roberto Duran.Robert De Niro plays Ray Arcel, a Legendary Boxing Manager forced out of the Ring by the Mob, but Returns when He Witnesses 66 Seconds of Roberto Duran Fighting.Edgar Ramirez is a Brooding and Dynamic "Duran" and really Comes to Life with His Fights against Sugar Ray Leonard (Usher Raymond). The Clashes with Leonard also come up a bit Lacking with Screen Time being Shared, unadvisedly, with so many Other Things.The Film, in an attempt to leave No "Stone" Unturned spans Duran's Life from Dirt Poor Street Urchin to "Champion of the World". Along the Way the United States Military and Political Leaders are Shown using the Panama Canal as a "Chess Piece" and Hints at Imperialistic Thuggery with a Very Young Duran being Bullied and Forever Angry Towards America.Ana De Armas is Striking as Duran's Loving Wife and Mother of His many Children and Ruben Blades Slides in and out of the Movie Awkwardly as Duran's Manager.Overall, the Film Feels Rushed and Diluted as the Enormous Amount of Story-Arcs seem Blended Together with Attention to All becoming the Detriment and Short Rift to All.Above Average but the Movie is Overweight. Entertaining but Bulging at the Seams with the many Story lines Fighting Against Each Other.

ab-23-447707 While this is essentially a boxing film it's also a decent biopic covering Roberto Durán's life from his childhood growing up in poverty in Panama through his boxing career and rise to wealth and fame. It, while superficially, also touches on the Panama–United States relations from the 1960's onward and their effects on Durán's attitude to life and the United states.The films focus on American imperialism towards Panama is quite an interesting sub plot as US military is shown interacting with the Panamanian population in full Battle of Algiers mode and creating a level of anti-US hostility which having been there a couple of times can still be found today.The story is told at a good pace and doesn't get bogged down on any one area, both De Niro & Ramirez deliver good performances as does Ellen Barkin as Arcel's wife, probably the only downside is Sugar Ray Leonard who comes off looking like a fool for most of the movie but overall it's a great movie and offers plenty of human interest elements to those who aren't boxing fans.After watching the terrible Back in the Day the other week I'd happily give this a 8/10

janzjaniny for everyone out there hoping for yet another solid 'boxing movie' - there is something wrong with this one from the get go - the way the characters are introduced and the events start to take shape seems just odd.first of all, there is no single likable character, which is kinda odd given how 'easy' it is to work on the well known pattern of a rookie who - despite various odds - aspires for the greatness. both Duran and Arcel appear like strangers to each other, there is absolutely no chemistry between the two, and arguably, no sort of drawing you to the action as it just runs along.there's no suspense or agitation either. the way the events are shown reminds me of going through a photo album or a (rather shallow though full of nice pictures) reportage in a newspaper. during the whole film I had no sense of involvement with characters or the events whatsoever.so what went wrong? well, mr. Jakubowicz - the director - clearly wasn't up to the task. in many moments it feels very amateur-ish, take the way the 'meeting/falling in love' moments, the night club scenes or Duran's flashbacks are filmed. I just face-palmed with disbelief it's actually a serious movie with ambitions and not an Asylum production.the script also doesn't provide us with much. it sort of rolls on like you know it would, the events just 'happen' and the characters just 'act' on them - often God knows why. as I said none of main characters is even remotely interesting, and some seem to serve no purpose at all (like the mob boss played by Torturro). and the ending - there should be a separate place in hell for filmmakers who end their flicks so cluelessly.being a huge fan of 'fighter' movies and series (Ali, Warrior, Kingdom) I'm staggered how one could have so much on paper - nice story, decent characters, very solid actors - and actually turned it all into a tasteless mush.seriously, it's not worth your time and don't kid yourself De Niro's presence at least guarantees some level of decency. it doesn't, better go watch Ali again or just have an evening walk. it's that bad..

Hellmant 'HANDS OF STONE': Three and a Half Stars (Out of Five)A sports biopic, based on the life of professional boxing legend Roberto Duran. The film stars Edgar Ramirez, Robert De Niro, Ana de Armas, Usher Raymond IV, Ellen Barkin and Ruben Blades. It was written and directed by Venezuelan filmmaker Jonathan Jakubowicz (in his English-language film debut). The movie has received mixed reviews from critics, and it's been a bomb at the Box Office. I think it's a decent boxing film, and biopic, but nothing spectacular. The story focuses on the relationship between professional boxer Roberto Duran (Ramirez), and his trainer (who's equally legendary) Ray Parcel (De Niro). The two had a troubled relationship (at times), but one that equally involved a lot of respect; and both men learned a lot from each other. The movie begins with Parcel discovering Duran, in an early fight, it then goes to flashbacks of Duran growing up in Panama. The film also focuses on Duran's relationships with his estranged father (Eliud Kauffman), his wife Felicidad Iglesias (Armas), and legendary boxer Sugar Ray Leonard (Raymond IV). It also (very dramatically) depicts the two epic fights between Duran and Leonard.The movie is about as slow-paced, and aimless feeling, as most biopics; but it does have it's moments. The fight scenes, between Duran and Leonard, are pretty well done; they're both intense and involving. The performances are mostly decent (especially Ramirez and De Niro), but Duran was not a very likable guy (not according to this movie). It's hard to root for someone like that; but the film does do a pretty good job of showing all the hardships he had to go through (so some of his unpleasantness is understandable).Watch our movie review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIFMQ3xbt9g