I don't know that "The Champ," Franco Zefirelli's remake of the King Vidor film from the 1930s, makes a strong argument that the original needed to be remade. But it does capture a nice performance from Jon Voight and a peek at the talents of child actor Ricky Schroeder before he would become generally known for his part on the T. V. series "Silver Spoons" a few years later.
The film is so manipulative that it almost made me angry. Yes, I shed the requisite tears at the film's finale, but come on -- what human being with blood coursing through their veins wouldn't? It doesn't take good directing to make a scene like that emotionally resonant.
Faye Dunaway shows that her acting talents had limits. When she was cast in a role that required her to be a neurotic mess -- "Bonnie and Clyde," "Network," "Mommie Dearest" -- her style fit perfectly. But when not, she manages to make her character seem like a neurotic mess anyway because of her overwrought histrionics.
Jack Warden plays Jon Voight's manager, because Jack Warden was contractually obligated to play every salty coach in the history of cinema except for the times when Burgess Meredith played them instead.
Grade: B.
The film is so manipulative that it almost made me angry. Yes, I shed the requisite tears at the film's finale, but come on -- what human being with blood coursing through their veins wouldn't? It doesn't take good directing to make a scene like that emotionally resonant.
Faye Dunaway shows that her acting talents had limits. When she was cast in a role that required her to be a neurotic mess -- "Bonnie and Clyde," "Network," "Mommie Dearest" -- her style fit perfectly. But when not, she manages to make her character seem like a neurotic mess anyway because of her overwrought histrionics.
Jack Warden plays Jon Voight's manager, because Jack Warden was contractually obligated to play every salty coach in the history of cinema except for the times when Burgess Meredith played them instead.
Grade: B.