taijiquan12 Play it to the Bone features a great core concept, the idea of two friends pitted against each other in a match that looms over every event of the movie. That idea, and what could happen leading up to the fight is the great potential this movie just doesn't quite tap. The 3 lead actors were well-cast and have some good interactions with some fun one-liners and fairly believable acting about their characters in regards to how real they were. Their chemistry was good but they weren't given enough to do. I understand they were trying for the minimalist route by making it a simple road film, but the driving scenes get to be a bit much and I feel as if the movie could've used more events happening in the trip leading up to the fight, making it a bit more of an adventure than a semi-serious character study. It does that decently, but not well enough to keep the tone from becoming a little dull eventually. I again have to stress that having more wacky and adventurous events, maybe not too over the top, would've helped the movie, and a greater sense that they might barely make it to the fight, thus increasing the suspense and the audience's desire to see them make it. In this case, extending the road trip over a series of days or a week would've allowed for many events to packed into the same amount of time the hours long car ride takes in the film. There is a cameo from Lucy Liu, who essentially only does one thing to really advance the characters/movie, and then doesn't really serve a purpose, aside from being a foil to Lolita Davidovich's character and a gratuitous sex scene. They totally missed the opportunity to add another dynamic to the pseudo love triangle that had gotten a little old at that point in the movie. Speaking of cameos, there's a good number of surprises from various celebrities and boxing personalities, which is fun and adds authenticity to the boxing. Speaking of the boxing, it's definitely a refresher after the road portion, and one thing that Play it to the Bone does well is creates a sense of nervousness before the big fight. I liked the sense of unease they established before the fight began, it really spoke to both character's feelings about the fight and having to do this. The fight itself is not bad, considering that for most of the movie, you might not buy Harrelson and Banderas as boxers, even middleweights. However their prep-work does show, and the boxing is much more real and technical than in the Rocky films, and many other boxing movies. The problem with the match however, is the camera-work, pacing, and choreography. Without spoilers, the tension built to the fight is spoiled on very, very repetitive, unimaginative choreography.The ending is arguably the weakest part about Play it to the Bone. Everything is left unresolved, with the worst of the end of the movie events going to Davidovich's character. Events I thought would lead to a large, brawl filled climax instead end on a whimper that, although somewhat realistic, is pretty depressing. The actual ending is very disappointing, and explained by the observation that there is no real arc or change for any of the lead characters, or any character really, which is bad for what is largely a character driven piece. None of them change from the results in the movie, or have a revelation, or improve their relationship, they simply play out (to the bone) their functions in the plot, without any true substance. Not making the fight a way for the 2 boxer-friends to resolve something was a huge missed opportunity. Having more conflict between them build up and then get resolved by the end battle would've been great. On a side note, the movie hints at, but doesn't skewer strongly enough, the corruption behind boxing promotion, which would've been more bold if fully carried out, and provide for more entertaining material. What we're left with is occasionally entertaining, but pretty ill-conceived. Play it to the Bone is watchable and fun, but it's an exhibition fight, not to be archived in the classics. 6 out of 10, slightly above average.

Rodrigo Amaro "Play it to the Bone" was almost a good sport themed film with some good performances by Antonio Banderas, Woody Harrelson and Lolita Davidovich. As I said almost a good film because it tries too hard to be a funny experience, finishes in a very obvious way and in the end it has nothing much to say.The premise is good and the story has its moments. Woody and Antonio play two boxers who have many things in common: both of them were called to a big fight in Las Vegas, they're gonna have to fight each other; both of them are coming from shameful defeats and they're traumatize with that; and both of them dated the same women (Davidovich) and they're gonna take her along with them driving all the way by car. This part of the film is a road movie with good moments, when some of the laughing parts appears when Woody's character shares his about Jesus or his sexual relationship with a crazy nymphomaniac (Lucy Liu); Banderas goes well in funny scenes where he's dumped by Lolita's character, and his story of how he become gay for one year after losing a fight for a gay boxer.When these characters get to Vegas the movie slowed down, it becomes a sleepy and not interesting experience, although some parts of the road movie doesn't work very well, it was difficult to pay attention to some of the things which is quite odd if you consider that this is just a simple entertainment.The third act is the so awaited fight and it drags down for too long, starts without any kind of appeal from the part of the extras (you can't hear no one cheering in the audience) and the cameos from actors like James Woods, Kevin Costner, Tony Curtis and others who are there to try to make this event more interesting but they don't speak at all and that is disappointing. Some of Woody's delusional moments during the fight were distracting, slowed down the fight's rhythm, intended to be a funny thing, well it wasn't. The rest of the fight and its ending are great, but predictable all the way.Master and commander of this film Ron Shelton is a good creator when the deal is to make good sport themed films. He gave us "Bull Durham" (baseball), "White Man Can't Jump" (basketball), and "Cobb" (baseball again) all equally great, but from 1996 with his weak "Tin Cup" (golf) his career started to slowed it down and "Play it to the Bone" almost got there along with his best films but it lacked enthusiasm, more interesting moments and the sport itself only appears in the ending and in some flashbacks, something that doesn't occur in his previous works. Again, the principal cast is good, it also has some good performances from Richard Masur, Tom Sizemore, Robert Wagner (even though his last scenes were so dull) and there's some enjoyable moments, but it never recovered his potential. 5/10

kristin_walker I see on my screen a cast that lends me to think, "Hey I bet this movie will be good. I enjoy all these actors." Alas, I was deceived. The dialog was dull and sounded oh to familiar. Very reminiscent of every late 90's flick. The acted was ridiculous... especially considering who was cast. Then, we come to the big fight at the end... it started out very cool; the actors were well trained for sure. The actors abilities, however, were ruined by the cameraman and/or the director. Cheesiest production ever of a fight scene. The angles and scene cuts looked like something from our local TV. Sad. Way to ruin an amazing and redeeming quality of the movie. Not to mention the fight went on FOREVER. Several times one of them would go down and people in the crowd are yelling "stay down" and you want them too as well, because seriously it is just too long. There are literally 2 main sets for this movie, the car on the road and the fighting ring.

mrw8 This actually wins the award for the worst movie I've ever seen. I give that award seriously. I've seen everything. At one point in this movie I said, "If she (Lolita D) laughs again for no reason in that annoying way, then I'm going to turn this off." seconds later she laughed for no reason in that annoying way for about the millionth time in the movie. I turned it off and have never seen the ending. One day I will muster the courage and watch it again. Like torture. to make me appreciate good movies. This movie is so canned that it looked like it written and directed by the same person...Hey! IT WAS written and directed by the same person. Ron Shelton. Classic movie idea of the week that fulfills his contract and Woody's and Antonio's. What did the story sessions sound like in Shelton's head?"Let's make them doctors....no, basketball players. No, that movie has already been made. Didn't I make it in 1992? Oh, yeah. How about boxers? Yeah. And they'll be totally out of shape. Or maybe I'll just direct the fighting in such a way that you can't tell they are out of shape. yeah. and they'll drive for 60 minutes from L.A. to Vegas so I can keep it under budget and take care of that favor I owe the guy at MGM. Sure. And there will be a prostitute. And they will take bathroom breaks. And there will be expensive cars. We want the 15 year old kids who are stoned and who snuck into the movie to be happy. So the hooker will have sex on a pile of tires. Yeah. that's funny. Will we need a script? Naw. why bother? we need to make this movie in six days because I've got to go to Hawaii to play golf. So no script. And if we can't get Antonio Banderas then well use Lorenzo Lamas. No one will know the difference. Or maybe Woody will just talk to himself and we'll treat it like a David Lynch movie. They will ad lib everything. The important thing is to imply a lot of raunchy sex and to waste as much time in the desert as possible. And when in doubt we can just play Motown songs for 11 minutes. That will keep the stoned kids awake."After that Shelton wrote this down on a napkin and got his agent to broker the deal. a week later the movie was in the can. a month later it was in a video store collecting dust. five years later I picked it up because I'd seen everything else. an hour into it I sat with an absolute blank look on my face and announced "If she laughs for no reason one more time..." the rest is history.