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Reviews
Cockfight (2001)
The action and pulp of a Tarantino film, but with insight and social importance.
I saw this at a screening in L.A. and was extremely impressed. And from someone who sees a great many documentaries, that's a huge compliment. It's an insightful, hugely entertaining and engrossing film that approaches the cockfighting world from all angles and without bias. Lesser filmmakers would have tried to push their own personal agenda, but these guys rose above partisanship, making the debate about cockfighting's humanity -- or lack thereof -- something you can, and do, argue about long after the movie is over. The access the filmmakers got to this world blew my mind. The action sequences of the cockfighting itself are so well shot and cut that you can't look away even when you want to. These guys bring you into backalley fights and seamy contests and into chicken factories and more...some places you want to see, others you don't at first but are later glad you did. What a brilliant subject to explore. What's more, it was beautifully shot and edited. All in all, excellent. If you have the chance, see it.