The boxing documentary directed by Steve Read and narrated by Robert Douglas is a captivating portrayal of the sport, albeit its structure is somewhat rambling. The documentary focuses on an array of figures, some of whom are interviewed on screen. The opening narration by Douglas portrays his personal experiences of how the boxing game was essential to him as a biracial child from Liverpool’s toughest parts. He later moved to one of Philadelphia’s roughest bashes and found himself right at home. This leads to a portrait of young fighters at an inner-city Philly gym, which has introduced new rays of hope to young men who could otherwise have been sucked into the streets’ violence.
The film moves in diverse directions, beginning with a section on legendary boxing promoter Don King and his impact on the business. After that, there’s a good chunk of screen time with the charming former champion Bernard Hopkins, who held world titles in two different classes. Hopkins started boxing after he came out of prison. He did time for robbery, although, as the film illustrates, he never required a weapon to persuade people to give him anything he wanted, so terrifying was his stare. Hopkins visits some of the neighborhoods where locals hail him as a hero. Later, the spotlight shifts to a host of former pros who sparred or knew Muhammad Ali. This diverse crew includes Michael and Leon Spinks, Larry Holmes, and Tim Witherspoon, among others.
Most of the interviewees are engaging raconteurs who talk at length about their glory days, despite the neurological toll boxing appears to have taken on some of them. Read, who is also the film’s cinematographer, has a sharp eye for intriguing compositions, and the documentary is plentiful with striking and atmospheric shots. The neon lights at magic hours or people just chilling out on the streets openly injected themselves into the film.
The documentary concludes with a jazzy and soothing song, “It’s the Peace that Deafens,” written and sung by Ola Onabulé, a perfect fit for the finish line credits. The documentary is an impressive mosaic that presents boxing in a new light, an unshakable influence, both good and bad in the lives of those who have taken part in the sport
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