The first must-see film of the year.

A film of deceptively outspoken contemporary relevance, this is cinema at its most alert, alarming and alive.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

The devil lies in the details, and the little things matter, making this show incredibly realistic.(Psychological realism)Eamonn Walker is a revelation, making one wonder, where has he been all along.Not to mention the intriguing writing.Along with being captivating and entertaining the dialogues serve as a life coaching mantra.This show is an inspiration to take hold of life by changing the little things, habits and routines and make the big difference.This is more than boxing, its human drama at its best!Give it a try you won't regret, seriously fun.

I was told about this show by my cousin. It sounded good but my oh my I didn't expect it to be this good. You most likely already know the premise of the show so I won't spend time on that for now. But the writing is superb. Holt McCallany as the main character Patrick "Lights" Leary is a fine performance.The beauty of this show is that it doesn't just focus on the boxing but on the boxer's personal life and the ins and outs of the murky world of professional boxing.The makers of this show must have researched well since it feels like the real deal.The scripting is excellent and unpredictable yet always believable.My only one gripe with the show is that the boxers don't really look big enough to be heavyweights, they look more like middleweights.I only sat down to watch one or two episodes but finished the entire season off in two nights after work, compelling stuff.Looking forward to season two.

As a boxing and MMA fan this show initially caught my attention. If you know Mixed Martial Arts, please read the paragraph below. Otherwise skip to the last paragraph.Patrick Leary's fight against Bas "El Guapo" Rutten in a disgusting Mixed Martial Arts fight. It's exactly what a 70-year-old man would imagine mixed martial arts to be; a cage in an abandon building, the canvas covered in a thin layer of dirt with the complements of blood stains that were never cleaned up. Rutten takes Leary down after landing a spinning back kick that lands clean to the head. Rutten "A World Class MMA Fighter" quickly applies what appears to be an armbar. However Bas Rutten's left leg is isn't in the correct position and yet he continues to hold the submission attempt. Leary powers out of the incorrect submission and eventually ends up back on his feet. Rutten gets Leary in a standing guillotine choke which is fully locked in. Leary miraculously manages to throw Rutten off of him. After exchanging some more unblocked punches by both fighters Rutten applies a rear naked choke; once again the submission is not applied correctly but somehow it drops Leary to the ground and Rutten lets go of the choke despite Leary was close to being put to sleep. Rutten is holding his own head as if somehow choking Leary hurt him. By this point both fighters' backs are covered in dirt, Leary is bleeding, neither fighter is sweating. Leary baits Rutten over to him by holding his throat in agony. He follows quickly lands a right uppercut to the throat followed by a left hook to the back of Rutten's head. The Boxer with no MMA skills emerges victorious!Aside from my sad description of the MMA scene, the final boxing scene isn't any better. The last two minutes of the show left me feeling as if nothing was resolved aside from Leary avenging a loss. No characters were followed up on, not even Leary. There is no way this show will have a second season.

I have to say that of late of all the new TV series to come along this one just out on FX titled "Lights Out" is a clear winner and knockout! It's a tense and compelling drama that shows life is tough and dirty and that sometimes just to get by you have to break the rules. And the series has plenty of realism as it stays true to form to the boxing life of shady promoters, political payoffs and cranial damage and the most rewarding a journey towards a comeback. The stories and acting is top notch for a cable series.Set in the Garden state of New Jersey it follows the tale of an ex heavyweight champion named Patrick "Lights" Leary(Holt McCallany I remember him from 1987's "Creepshow 2") and after his boxing life is now over Lights tries to stay afloat and travel thru life as if he were in the boxing ring. It's tough in the suburbs living like a middle class guy, yet he has the support of his tough and caring loving wife(played just fine by Catherine McCormack)and his three daughters are the love of his life too.On the downside his now primary source of income is his personal appearances based on his former fame plus Lights runs a training gym for up and coming boxers and he co owns this with his arrogant and shady brother(Pablo Schreiber)still Lights is a beast and his mind keeps pulling him back into the fighting ring.As you watch each episode you see that Lights is a good family man, yet to get by just like many in today's pressure economy and work life this man succumbs to temptation. It doesn't matter if it's taking political bribes or doing dirty work involving promoters and agents Lights and his brother will do it to survive. As his ultimate goal is a rematch with the fighter who beat him. A good supporting and wild card role is when you see Light's father and gym trainer(played by the wonderful Stacy Keach)as dad is tough and by the book as he tries to keep both of his sons on the straight and narrow road even though he most of the time fails with that it's still compelling to watch.Really this series has it all especially the realism of boxing such as challenges, comebacks, brain damage, crooked politicians and greedy promoters all tied into organized crime. Those themes tie in well with the life and family drama for a show of slow boiling tension. I think "Lights Out" is one of the best new series around the drama and tension mixed with life and bending the rules to get by is compelling and uplifting. Plus it's nice to see someone like Holt McCallany get a break and have a fighting chance at acting stardom. "Lights Out" will knock you out both inside and outside of the ring!