Jawbone

source: Jawbone

Jawbone. The best boxing themed film I've ever seen and a contender for film of the year. It's a low budget British drama and probably won't get an audience, unlike the far inferior recent boxing 'dramas' Southpaw and Creed. British film-making at its best. Brilliantly acted (and written, and produced by Jonny Harris - who BTW was in London to Brighton - another stunning British masterpiece). More like the brilliant "The Wrestler" than any recent boxing films. 9 out of ten.

A British drama; A story about a former youth boxing champion who has fallen on hard times, drawn to the demon drink, but with a glimmer of hope smouldering and crackling enough to burn off any excess fat, alcohol and personal redundancy. Johnny Harris delivers a believable performance risking his life for a meagre pay day against a backdrop of an inner London estate that he calls home albeit disappearing around him which presents a powerful undertone. He turns to the only family he has left: a boxing gym owner. Ray Winstone plays this straight forward good egg; his corner man is the suitably supportive Michael Smiley. Ian McShane is sharp and slick as the promoter, and the foil. The film is tightly scripted, well-balanced and of good length and unsurprisingly good repeat viewing with very little histrionics. The drawbacks are plot progression. It has a well-worn boxing narrative and lacks cinematic scale. That said, it is a well-observed modern day boxing drama.

Manny's Movie Musings: "Jawbone" is about a homeless, alcoholic ex-boxer (played by Johnny Harris, who also wrote the script) who seeks to get his life in order with the help of two friends (played by Ray Winstone and Michael Smiley) who run a boxing gym that Harris is secretly crashing in every night. Out of cash and without a job, Harris seeks an underground, boxing match with a younger, stronger fighter. A creepy gangster played by Ian McShane sets up the fight, and Harris will have to struggle with and suppress all his demons so that he can be in the best shape possible and give the crowd their money's worth…and come out of the fight alive. "Jawbone" is a raw, dark (literally and figuratively) story of one man's battle against his own, self-destructive nature. My most memorable, movie moment is the scene when Harris holds a bottle of liquor, staring at it, contemplating whether to drink it or not. Harris' eyes, his facial expressions…all show the torment in his soul fighting against his addiction. Mannysmemorablemoviemoments

This film tells the story of a former boxing champion, who becomes an alcoholic with no life to live. He turns to underground boxing just to make some money to get by. "Jawbone" is really slow in pace. The initial twenty minutes could have easily condensed into just a few scenes by showing him with a bottle of alcohol, having an argument at the council and going into an AA meeting. Instead, the story drifts slowly, meandering its way through with little things happening. It takes fifty minutes for the boxer to get an underground boxing tournament set up. I just could not get into the film, the story or the characters' shoes.

Based on the lead actor's own life experiences a told to death boxing story is made with heart. The power-packed performance from all around the cast is the driving force of the film. This dark and gritty British drama has a final boxing match that has to be one of the most authentic representations of that sports in a film. Even though the story is predictable the film was able to keep me involved but still, there's nothing new in here either.

Another boxing film and this time its from Britain. Seems a small scale film. Most part of the film was a drama. But the entire final act was the event what everyone had waited for. Like any boxing film, it had the same story that a struggling boxer wants to get back to his professional position and he's intended to do anything for it. The pre-developments were a perfect setting for the what comes in the latter. More than that, a fine base laid for a sequel. This film was average, to me, but its open ending could take it to an even better level in his next. Because of the platform, it could become a small 'Rocky' series, if the filmmakers are willing to go that length. Besides, the title name was an ideal one for such sport. An ex-boxing sensation seeks his return to the ring after losing everything in the life. Recovering from alcoholic, the age is not on his side to get his glory back. No one is supportive. All he has is his firm mindset. But can he do it, especially the professional level challenge is being far fetched, what are all his other options and how far he would go are the remaining story to tell us. An okay film for a first time director. The cast looked okay too, and so the screenplay, even though built from a very familiar background. It tried its best to get the viewers sympathically with its main character. But not everyone gets that emotional appeal as he struggles. Particularly the final fight was guessable its direction. So not much impressive as it should have been, as there are great numbers of boxing films coming out every year. Just one time watchable film, otherwise not necessarily need to be watched, even if you love boxing. 6/10

Pedigree fight movie. Great characters ,authentic training and fighting. If you've had any life experience or any real training expericience ,you will relish the honest portrayal. All quality. Lots of insights. I feel some of the low reviews are from peolple with no business watching fight films,people with no life experience or kids wanting some fairytale hype. In a sea of superficial super heroes and lame cliches this film stands on its own regardless of the theme. More heart than Phar Lap.

That's certainly a true UK movie, far, far, far better than the US crap, such as ROCKY series and other SOUTHPAW with happy ending for sissies. This is TRUE life, true f... life. If you are depressed, ready to commit suicide, avoid this so beautiful but AUTHENTIC story about a world in which you are about to be crashed, poisoned, cheated and smashed if you are not lucky and strong enough to survive. Acting, directing, editing are superb. A so moving tale about a garbage world where only the strongest can make it in the end. Struggle, struggle and struggle again, that's the name of the game. Ken Loach could have made it. The social agency scene in the beginning reminded me I DANIEL BAKE. Such a shame that this beautiful little movie won't be released in France. Maybe in DVD only. A real must see.

I wanted to like this film and was hopeful it would turn out to be another Fat City. However, it is really nothing special. Little real character development. You can't relate to the main charcater because you have very little to go by. The majority of the film is the star looking glum, walking around the streets at night and training in the gym. Honestly, I couldn't of cared less if he wins his fight or not. The acting is good; but it is basically the same thing over and over. Better off watching Fat City as Stacy Keach as a washed up fighter making a comeback is ten times better then Jawbone.