Rating: 
Summary: a complete film
Review: Director Jim Sheridan's third excellent film with star Daniel Day-Lewis is a showpiece of excellent acting, cinematography, subdued love-story-telling, and direction. The DVD leaves no stones unturned. It sharply displays all the essential hues of this Irish production as well as providing insightful and informative director and producer commentaries (plus other stuff - check the menu!). A must have DVD for Daniel Day-Lewis and Jim Sheridan fans.
Rating: 
Summary: Cliche-laden and stodgy
Review: I am surpirsed that an Irish director would make a film that, to many inhabitants of Belfast (like myself) looks like a typically niave American view of the city. To me, the film lacks crucial realism, particularly in some of the "cross-community" scenes/comments and in the depiction of a Belfast segregated and laden with checkpoints (they disappeared from the city years ago, although the peace walls are still there). Even though these are small points, I found that they took away from the realism of the situation, pandering to mass-media cliches of the situation in Northern Ireland. This was grossly offensive in rubbish like the Devil's Own and Blown Away, and while The Boxer is certainly not in their awful league that fact that it was directed by an Irishman is disappointing. Otherwise, considering what they are given to work with, the acting is very good, particulalry the Belfast accents (well, by and large!).Disappointing film that could - and should - have been a good reference point in time.
Rating:
Summary: Moody, Deep and Rewarding
Review: I love Daniel Day-Lewis. His wounded slow burn as Danny Flynn, a man recently released from prison after more than a decade, returning to his old neighborhood and trying to escape the ghosts of his past but confronted by the woman he (still) loves, who has married and had a child and a host of friends still separated by the politics of war is a quiet revelation. While his attempt to revive his career as a fighter fizzles and his life is under constant threat, Danny makes the most of his situation by standing up against the opression and laws that have cost so many of his friends their freedom and in some cases, their lives. Emily Watson is note perfect as his former love interest and she brings a quiet dignity to her role as a single mother torn between devotion to her imprisoned husband, protecting her pre-teen son, and her resurging feelings for Danny. While many won't like the tone and pacing of this film, I find it entrancing and marvel at Day-Lewis vulnerable, quiet power. Superb!
Rating: 
Summary: A tale of moral relativism
Review: I saw this film, with high expectations, in the theater. I thought Sheridan had done a good, though not great, job on "In the Name of the Father," capturing some of the reality of the Irish situation.
"The Boxer" has no appealing characters. Brian Cox comes closest. The British are portrayed in the age-old, inaccurate role of "honest brokers" among the irrational, bloodthirsty Irish stereeotypes. The IRA man trying to mess up Cox's peace initiative seems to represent Sheridan's attempt to wrap up a goofy and unwieldy plot.
As the choppy plot unfolded, I expected that at least the Day-Lewis character would resist adultery with his friend's wife. This struggle, though nearly lost in the unlikely political plot, was the most compelling thing in the movie. Unfortunately, the film dashed even that minimal expectation. Day-Lewis rekindles his romance with a woman who is married to his imprisoned friend. So why should the audience empathize with these characters?
Rating: 
Summary: One Boxer's Rebellion
Review: It's odd that a film about such a volatile subject (Northern Ireland's "Troubles") should be so understated in its way, but Jim Sheridan's "The Boxer" is just that--despite the occasional explosion and political assassination. The trailers that I saw in theaters a few years back almost suggested one of those "lovers-torn-apart-in-a-world-gone-mad" films that we've all come to know and find suspect. But the tone of the actual film is really quite muted. What makes "The Boxer" ring true is the very tentativeness of the relationship between Daniel Day-Lewis and Emily Watson's characters. One time teenage lovers, they have been separated for 14 years while Danny Flynn (Day-Lewis) served a prison term for unspecified political activity. Released now, at the age of 32, he wants only to be left alone and to resume his boxing career. To Sheridan's credit, the irony that the BOXER has, in fact, become a man of peace is not dwelled upon. Nor is the tentative reunion with his lost love exactly the stuff of Sturm und Drang. There is an overall sense of Irish reserve in the film, a sense that brutal political realities have left all of its characters emotionally stunted. That may be "The Boxer's" greatest achievement, in fact, that the human cost of this political tragedy is not just measured in the body counts, but in the thousands of "small deaths" each individual experiences almost daily.
Rating:
Summary: One Boxer's Rebellion
Review: It's odd that a film about such a volatile subject (Northern Ireland's "Troubles") should be so understated in its way, but Jim Sheridan's "The Boxer" is just that--despite the occasional explosion and political assassination. The trailers that I saw in theaters a few years back almost suggested one of those "lovers-torn-apart-in-a-world-gone-mad" films that we've all come to know and find suspect. But the tone of the actual film is really quite muted. What makes "The Boxer" ring true is the very tentativeness of the relationship between Daniel Day-Lewis and Emily Watson's characters. One time teenage lovers, they have been separated for 14 years while Danny Flynn (Day-Lewis) served a prison term for unspecified political activity. Released now, at the age of 32, he wants only to be left alone and to resume his boxing career. To Sheridan's credit, the irony that the BOXER has, in fact, become a man of peace is not dwelled upon. Nor is the tentative reunion with his lost love exactly the stuff of Sturm und Drang. There is an overall sense of Irish reserve in the film, a sense that brutal political realities have left all of its characters emotionally stunted. That may be "The Boxer's" greatest achievement, in fact, that the human cost of this political tragedy is not just measured in the body counts, but in the thousands of "small deaths" each individual experiences almost daily.
Rating:
Summary: Heartbreaking.
Review: THE BOXER is a *powerful* film. It's hard not to get involved in the life of Danny Flynn, played by Daniel Day-Lewis and Maggie, played beautifully by the amazing Emily Watson. This is probably my favorite film to address the conflict in Northern Ireland. The film reeks of the tension and brooding atmosphere of that troubled area of the world. Flynn is a boxer who has just been released from prison after fourteen years. He returns to a home where nothing is what it once was; his girlfriend is married and has a son, his neighbors are suspicious of him, the neighborhood goons attempt to suck him back into his old life. All he wants to do is run a gym and box. The development of the story is heartbreaking as Maggie and Danny begin to rediscover old feelings for each other in the midst of the turmoil. Maggie's husband is in prison himself, and Danny must tread carefully to avoid upsetting anyone. Loyalties change and are questioned. When Danny bucks the system things begin to get interesting... A beautiful film with gorgeous color and a high quality DVD transfer in every respect. Everyone should see this film once. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Heartbreaking.
Review: THE BOXER is a *powerful* film. It's hard not to get involved in the life of Danny Flynn, played by Daniel Day-Lewis and Maggie, played beautifully by the amazing Emily Watson. This is probably my favorite film to address the conflict in Northern Ireland. The film reeks of the tension and brooding atmosphere of that troubled area of the world. Flynn is a boxer who has just been released from prison after fourteen years. He returns to a home where nothing is what it once was; his girlfriend is married and has a son, his neighbors are suspicious of him, the neighborhood goons attempt to suck him back into his old life. All he wants to do is run a gym and box. The development of the story is heartbreaking as Maggie and Danny begin to rediscover old feelings for each other in the midst of the turmoil. Maggie's husband is in prison himself, and Danny must tread carefully to avoid upsetting anyone. Loyalties change and are questioned. When Danny bucks the system things begin to get interesting... A beautiful film with gorgeous color and a high quality DVD transfer in every respect. Everyone should see this film once. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Very good
Review: The boxer was a story of a man who was put in jail by the ira for forteen years. When he got out he was in love with a woman he new before he went to prison.He became a great boxer in england.REall good performances and a great story
Rating:
Summary: Sparkling chemistry between the two leading actors.
Review: The picture is matted at the ratio of 1.66:1 for the widescreen and 16x9 enhanced version. The picture was filmed in spherical and shown at 1.85:1, however, the DVD framing is excellent as I did not encounter any striking crop. Images are sharp in the usual DVD standard, but there are some dirts on the print, some slight shimmering on the brighter objects, and few noise on background scenes. Colors are warm and well saturated with cool blue lighting as the predominant color. The picture is shot in a perpetual state of dreariness as there aren't many bright settings. Black and shadow detail are well defined. The encoded soundtrack is limited in the surrounds, but has a wide frontal stage. Some decent panning effects provide by the constant sound of helicopter whizzing overhead. Bass extension is forceful on the few explosions, but is otherwise restrained. The well recorded score generates most of the dynamic responses. Dialogue is well integrated. The supplemental materials are quite a package. For starter, you get two commentary tracks by the director and producer, but I've to say that it's kind of overkill for this movie. I would rather have a single track with them together. There is a 22-minute featurette that takes you behind-the-scenes with interviews from the leading actors, director, and trainer Barry McGuigan. The most interesting bit is the part on training Daniel Day-Lewis to be a boxer. His sheer determination and relentless workout amazed the trainer. McGuigan declares that Day-Lewis is good enough to fight the top ten fighters in Ireland. I'll pay to see that. Then there are about 15 minutes worth of deleted scenes, some of which revealed more insight to the story, such as the scene showing Maggie visiting her husband Tommy in jail, he is often refered to but not shown in the final cut. There is also an alternate ending, which I will explain on the bottom of the page. Both the production notes and biography are well in-depth. Director Jim Sheridan (Some Mother's Son, In the Name of the Father) obviously has a tremendous insight and account to the political conflict and struggle in Ireland as all his previous films demonstrated; The Boxer is no exception. Amidst the chaotic backdrop is an earnest love story and the lives of those that are needlessly victimized by the insane political conflict. The film made more compelling by the oustanding performances with sparkling chemistry between the two leading actors. It's wonderful to see Emily Watson in another role since her break through performance in Breaking the Waves. I hope to see her more in the future.
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