I've seen a lot of great movies in my time, but this one takes the cake. What. A. Thrill.
What starts off as a simple boxing movie suddenly evolves into an emotional whirlwind that will leave the viewer gasping and breathless. The main character, a boxer, sets off on a journey with Michael Chiklis -- only to meet up with Jennifer Beals, who has "blue streaks in her hair and skeletons in her closet". These "skeletons" are never quite revealed; her character maintains a pouty, ineffective demeanor the entire film. Brilliant.
An unexpected love story develops between Jennifer Beals and the boxer... and interestingly, between Michael Chiklis and Rod Steiger, who develop a love/hate relationship. Steiger is at the top of his game here -- easily the best performance of his career. His loud, abrasive and witty one-liners will have you howling for more.
The narration by Michael Chiklis really sets the pace for what is at the heart of Body and Soul. The movie could very well be called "Soul and Soul" because the "body" is extraneous; this is a story about love, about brotherhood, about making your dreams come true. The direction is tight, the soundtrack impeccable, and the acting top-notch. You'll want to watch over and over as Joe Mantegna makes crazy exits out of scenes, Jennifer Beals rests her head romantically on Boom Boom's shoulder, and a mysterious woman in a red dress shows up again and again.
10/10
What starts off as a simple boxing movie suddenly evolves into an emotional whirlwind that will leave the viewer gasping and breathless. The main character, a boxer, sets off on a journey with Michael Chiklis -- only to meet up with Jennifer Beals, who has "blue streaks in her hair and skeletons in her closet". These "skeletons" are never quite revealed; her character maintains a pouty, ineffective demeanor the entire film. Brilliant.
An unexpected love story develops between Jennifer Beals and the boxer... and interestingly, between Michael Chiklis and Rod Steiger, who develop a love/hate relationship. Steiger is at the top of his game here -- easily the best performance of his career. His loud, abrasive and witty one-liners will have you howling for more.
The narration by Michael Chiklis really sets the pace for what is at the heart of Body and Soul. The movie could very well be called "Soul and Soul" because the "body" is extraneous; this is a story about love, about brotherhood, about making your dreams come true. The direction is tight, the soundtrack impeccable, and the acting top-notch. You'll want to watch over and over as Joe Mantegna makes crazy exits out of scenes, Jennifer Beals rests her head romantically on Boom Boom's shoulder, and a mysterious woman in a red dress shows up again and again.
10/10