The Champ
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Movie Reviews of The Champ
Movie Review: The one movie that still makes me cry
Summary: 5 Stars
The Champ is an astounding motion picture directed by Franco Zeffirelli with outstanding performances by Jon Voight, Faye Dunaway and the unbelievably convincing Ricky Schroder.The movie is the best intimate melodramatic tearjerker that I have ever seen. One view of this film will leave you with a lump in your throat and teary eyes, the next viewings will just leave you in plain tears. Yes, its that kind of movie that you'd see more than once and still feel engaged.
Jon Voight plays former boxer Billy Flynn who is down on his luck raising his son TJ, played by Schroder, alone after his wife, played by Dunaway, left him and the boy and went on to marry a millionaire after he falls out of his life of boxing, doctor's orders. The movie brings you close to the lives of all three of these characters, you feel their pain, their grief, and their emptiness. Billy has turned to drinking to escape the pain of not being able to return to boxing to support a family. TJ does not know his mother since she left him when he was still an infant, and still sees his deadbeat father as a hero, calling him 'champ'. Faye Dunaway's character can't seem to cope with the fact that her son has grown up believing she is dead and can only take him as a friend after bumping into him at a horserace, the horse that 'champ' bought him was competing in this race. The story begins to unfold when the three characters enter each other's lives again.
What's more beautiful about this movie is its musical score. The music is really another character in the film, and is quite breathtaking.
Highly Recommended
A
Movie Review: Perhaps the Best Child Performance Ever Caught on Film.
Summary: 5 Stars
I remember seeing this movie in the theater when I was 16. I still recall that everybody there was crying by the end. I don't think I've seen a performance by a child star that can rival little Ricky Schroder's effort in this film. This was his first acting job and he stole the show with what was easily an Oscar winning performance. This movie is a remake of an older film by the same title made back in the early 1930's; this remake is superior on all counts. Jackie Cooper, then age nine played the role covered here by Schroder, who turned eight, while on the set. Wallace Beerey played the title role done here by Jon Voight. The film is about as perfect as any drama could hope to be because it deals so honestly with very real family issues. Especially the love of a father for his son. The events told in the story could happen to anyone. Perhaps that's why it was such a success in the theaters. Performaces by all the actors were simply fantastic, but again Schroder's will leave you stunned. I've never been able to get through this film without tearing up; as it's unquestionably, one of the most powerfully emotional films ever made.
I highly recommend it to everyone. The DVD has a very honest and insightful audio commentary by both Voight and Schroder. Their comments actually reinforce the picture's true emotional power; and together, they recall special moments that clearly indicate to it's viewers, why this movie will always stand the test of time. You'll see why the Best Picture Oscar should have gone to this film, it earned it in every sense of the word.
Movie Review: Someone's Story
Summary: 5 Stars
"The Champ" is the story of a child caught in a situation that, like a tidal wave, tosses him in places that are at times frightening and places that he does not neccesarily want to go.It has elements, in that respect, to "E. T." and "A. I.", but unlike those two films, this motion picture is not symbolic--it could really happen to someone. "The Champ" springs from the same well as "A Street Car Named Desire" and "Kramer vs. Kramer", it is the story of people and their passions--and how those ambitions lead them to and away from one another. To specifically review the DVD, I would strongly urge viwers NOT
to overlook the commentary feature, as John Voight and Rick Schroder give great insights to an excellent film. Speaking of Schroder, while Henry Thomas and Haley Joel Osment were and are outstanding child performers, Schroder, because he did it so well and at a younger age, has my greatest admiration. Is five stars enough?
Movie Review: The Champ
Summary: 5 Stars
When I seen The Champ was finally available to buy, I was besides myself with excitement. For I remember every heartbreaking scene from when I used to watch it, over and over again, when I was just a kid. The thrill of watching this film is still with me, 10 years later.
There are no words I can use to articulate quite how wonderful The Champ is. Containing one of, if not thee, greatest child actor performances, from Ricki Schroder. No human being has loved another human being, as much as this kid loves The Champ. The Champ being the character of Billy (Jon Voight), down on his luck, ex champion fighter and current gambler and wanderer, father to little JD (Schroder).
When I was nine, ten, eleven years-old this film reduced me to a distraught state of mind, literally. Heartbreaking, tender, thoughtful, enchanting, it still breaks my heart today.
Warning; The Champ contains the most heart wrenching and deeply painful scene in movie history!!...
Movie Review: Great remake of a classic!
Summary: 5 Stars
This film really shines as a great inspirational story for any family. The performances are really what drives this movie. Everyone is in top-notch form (Voight, Dunaway) and Ricky Shroder delivers a break-through job that should have been nominated for an Oscar. Here is a bit of trivia: Apparently Shroder was having a difficult time being able to cry on camera. La Dunaway, always being the true professional that she is, asked the director to give her a few moments alone with the boy. In order to help Ricky prep for his emotional finale to seeing his Champ pass away, Faye grabbed hold of Shroder's baby testicles with her thumb and forefinger and pinched as hard as she could. Just as soon as Ricky yelped out in terrible pain and the tears began to run like a sink faucet, Dunaway whispers in his ear "do the scene" and the director yells "Roll!" That Faye...always helping her fellow actors to give the best performance possible!