Crappy film

Clever, believable, and super fun to watch. It totally has replay value.

The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

I like the scene in, I presume, Great Britain, where the Rich and Famous immaculately dressed with excited young gorgeous women sip champagne seated at candelabra-lighted dining tables watching the boxing match in the center of the room. Danny Flynn, the white guy beats the black guy (no name) to a bloody pulp, but the referee will not stop the fight. Disgusted, Danny Flynn leaves the ring, while some obviously important guy yells out, "you'll never fight here again."It is an interesting and not-so-subtle commentary on discrimination in British High Society, while the Northern Irish religious-sectarian war, the focus of the film, drags on.

This film is an absolute masterpiece from beginning to end. Few movies have so much to tell and then find such inventive ways to narrate the story. Only minutes into the film we are shown this incredibly dark world of Northern Ireland, the IRA, their prisoners and wives, and the conflicts that divide…what? Who? And forget about Why. Although this violent world is the setting for the film, at the center it's a love story and a really good one.Not a second is wasted in opening minutes to bring us up to speed as to what is happening for everyone involved…and there is a lot happening so pay close attention. I don't know if there has ever been more story contained in a single movie that what we are told in The Boxer. There are just so many people whose lives we seem to know intimately, call it character development but it's done such precision that it's difficult to believe that it all takes place in less than two hours. No movie has ever used time so effectively and movingly as we see here. Every single character could move on to inhabit another movie and we'd want to follow that story, too.The cinematography and the music were simply sublime, once again, from start to finish. The opening sequence is exhilarating and the final moments are what movies are all about. As I said, a masterpiece.The acting in this was just about the best that you will ever see in any movie ever. The individuals deserve credit but I always think that the director is ultimately responsible for the acting as he/she has the final say. Bravo to one and all.To those who criticized the film for somehow not portraying things as they truly are in Northern Ireland I say they can all go watch a documentary. In the end all of the killing there was absolutely pointless and stupid. Catholics fighting Protestants, one ignorant superstition against another is just what the world doesn't need.

I rarely watch movies more than once, however this is my second time watching "The Boxer". Why? Because the airline I was on when I watched the film is stupid. What I mean is that I'd seen 95% of the film---then they cut it off!! For years, I always wondered what happened at the end and finally I've gotten around to it.Before I talk about the movie, I did find the choice of rolls for Daniel Day-Lewis very interesting. After doing "My Left Foot" and "In the Name of the Father", he chose yet another film set in Ireland or Northern Ireland. Because of this, and especially coming after "In the Name of the Father", there is a HUGE sense of Déjà vu, not only for the location but because BOTH films are about an Irishman who has been imprisoned for IRA activities. Though in this film Day-Lewis' character is much calmer, sweeter and subtle than in these other films--plus you really have to admire the way he prepared for this role*.The film begins with Danny (Day-Lewis) about to be released from prison. I don't recall what it is he did to get there but it had to do with IRA activities and Danny is sick of prison and wants to put it all behind him. As far as he's concerned, although he's now 32, he wants to pick up with his old boxing gym (Holy Family) and distance himself from the IRA. He obviously has become disenchanted by them and their killing of innocent civilians. Now he just wants to box and do something very radical for Northern Ireland--open up the gym to young would-be boxers of all faiths--not just Catholics. His goal is to facilitate the healing through boxing and his idea generally is well received--though his old compatriots are not particularly pleased and do everything they can to keep the fires of hatred stoked. Plus, his old flame (Emily Watson) isn't sure if she should be loyal to him or her rather toxic family.I really liked this film but noticed there were LOTS of divergent opinions. As a person with neither British nor Irish heritage, perhaps that is why I appreciated its message that it's time to stop the violence and have peace. I am sure this simple message irritated many on both sides of an insane conflict, though to me it just seems like a reasonable thing. Extremely well acted and quite gripping--I sure liked this film. I should warn you, however, the film is tough to watch at times. The boxing match with the Nigerian is one of the toughest and bloodiest in film history and the ending sure is tough to watch as well.By the way, it could be because I watched the film streaming through Netflix, but there were no captions. I really would have preferred them since I am a bit hard of hearing and it's sometimes tough for me to understand the accents--and I am sure some others might have the same experience.*Day-Lewis' acting method is legendary and even a bit scary. Even most method actors would be shocked how he puts himself into the roles (such as behaving as if he had severe cerebral palsy every second--even when the cameras were off while doing "My Left Foot"--necessitating insane things to accommodate his 'disability' by the crew). Here, according to IMDb, he worked for three years (THREE YEARS!) to perfect his boxing skills! Wow...that's dedication. And, while it might sound crazy, he is the actor with the most lifetime Oscars for Best Actor with three statuettes to his credit so far!!

As he has proved over and over, Daniel Day Lewis can carry a movie by his presence, without saying a word. The opening of The Boxer is his best example. Without speaking, DDL gets out of prison and begins to carve out a new life. With nothing other than the physical surroundings and DDL's facial expressions to carry us, this film sucks us in from the beginning.I bought into the story of this young man of integrity. If you don't, I guess you rate the movie poorly. But I found this story more compelling than Sins of the Father, and thus more worthy.I'd watch this again, which is high praise indeed from me.