Resurrecting the Champ (2007)

Director:

Rod Lurie

Writers (WGA):

Michael Bortman (screenplay) and
Allison Burnett (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

24 August 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Sport

Tagline:

Based on a true story, that was based on a lie.

Plot:

Up-and-coming sports reporter rescues a homeless man ("Champ") only to discover that he is, in fact, a boxing legend believed to have passed away. What begins as an opportunity to resurrect Champ's story and escape the shadow of his father's success becomes a personal journey as the ambitious reporter reexamines his own life and his relationship with his family. |

Plot Keywords:

Black Athlete | Homelessness | Separated | Boxing | Journalism

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Samuel L. Jackson	...	Champ
Josh Hartnett	...	Erik Kernan
Kathryn Morris	...	Joyce Kernan
Dakota Goyo	...	Teddy Kernan
Alan Alda	...	Ralph Metz
Rachel Nichols	...	Polly
Teri Hatcher	...	Andrea Flak
Kristen Shaw	...	Perlmutter
Nick Sandow	...	Rocky Marciano
David Paymer	...	Whitley
Harry J. Lennix	...	Robert Satterfield Jr.
Peter Coyote	...	Ike Epstein
Ryan McDonald	...	Kenny
Chris Ippolito	...	Jaws
Jameson Trenholm	...	Runt

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some violence and brief language.

Runtime:

112 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS | SDDS

Certification:

USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Company:

Phoenix Pictures

Trivia:

The story was inspired by the article "Resurrecting the Champ" by J.R. Moehringer which appeared in the Los Angeles Times Magazine in 1997; although the article indeed purportedly focused on Bob Satterfield, there are various other differences with the true story. Moehringer, who had already won a Pulitzer Prize, had no children, and his father was not well-known though he did abandon his family when the writer was an infant.

Quotes:

Champ: I'm not a bum; just homeless.

Movie Connections:

References "Weeds" (2005)

Soundtrack:

Land of Quiet Poems

An Amazing Experience!

I saw this movie recently at a screening. Everybody's already talked about the plot so I don't need to get into those details. What I think this movie will be known for is its performances (more on that in a second...), and its how uplifting it is. You leave the movie feeling great and for reasons that I will not get into, it makes you want to call your dad and tell him how much you love him (or your son). A lot of people will talk about Samuel L. Jackson's portrayal of the worn-out boxer, but the true revelation of the film is the acting of Josh Hartnett, who I have never thought could be so believable or appealing. He has always been just kind of a pretty boy, really. But here, he plays a father, a husband, a journalist, and according to Aristotle's definition, a classic "Tragic Hero." He desires to impress his son to the degree that he sometimes bends the truth a bit too often...which ultimately annihilates his relationship with his son. The child, Teddy, is played by a kid named Dakota Goyo, who will become a big star. Teri Hatcher's cameo brought humor to the film when needed. If I had a criticism, it is that the film might be a tiny bit lengthy; however, every moment of the film was well-done. I wouldn't know how to make it shorter. I highly recommend this movie to everyone.