PRICE OF GLORY
Reviewed by Harvey Karten New Line Cinema Director: Carlos Avila Writer: Phil Berger Cast: Jimmy Smits, Jon Seda, Clifton Collins Jr., Maria del Mar, Sal Lopez, Louis Mandylor, Danielle Carnastra, Ernesto Hernandez, Paul Rodriguez, Ron Perlman
What good father doesn't want the best for his kids? At times, though, you might have a difficult time separating what a parent is doing altruistically for his children from what he is doing to fulfill his own shattered dreams--a way to restore his self-respect and his prestige with the outside world. "Price of Glory," whose sound track features some exciting and appropriate Latino music such as "Grita de Alegria" performed by Quetzal and "Cumbia Raza" performed by Los Lobos, is a hard-hitting, action-packed and drama-filled movie about a dad who could have been a contender. Jimmy Smits inhabits the role of Arturo Ortega, a Mexican-American who entered the boxing ring in Mariposa, Arizona during his teens as a way out of the ghetto, but after suffering one particularly crushing defeat had to give up his wishes. He gets another chance to restore the family glory by becoming the trainer of his three sons, who are introduced to us early on and whose roles are soon taken by others when director Carlos Avila moves ahead ten years.
When Arturo's children Sonny, Jimmy and Johnny Ortega begin sparring in what appears to be a little league-style introduction to the sport, Arturo is in his splendor. Expecting all three of his boys to become champs, he is especially hard on Jimmy, who is not as adept or willing to follow the older man's instructions. Arturo's differing treatments of his three sons become largely responsible for the boys' distinct personalities and as they hit their late teens and early twenties, Sonny (Jon Seda), comes on as the most promising of the new boxers, while Jimmy (Clifton Collins Jr.) turns into the family rebel and Johnny (Ernesto Hernandez) enhances his dad's image as the most obedient son.
"Price of Glory," which was written by former New York Times sportswriter Phil Berger--whose output includes a book about Mike Tyson and the shaping up of autobiographies by Joe Frazier and Larry Holmes. His familiarity with the sport comes across throughout the movie, as he tackles the roles of managers, trainers, and referees and gives us a view of the temperaments of the pugilists, particularly one villainous opponent, Davey Lane (Louis Mandylor) in a middleweight title bout that forms the dramatic climax of the tale. Despite the excitement generated by the soundtrack and the swiftly paced action of the drama, the movie lacks virtually any trace of originality. The supportive wife, Rita (Maria del Mar) is there for her man when he needs her, and turns away dutifully and predictably from the ring whenever her boy, Sonny is getting hurt, as Sonny's wife, Mariella (Danielle Carnastra) sheds a tear and leans empathetically on her mother-in-law's shoulder. =
The film is well acted throughout, furthered by the actual boxing career of Jon Seda, who punches a bag like the Golden Gloves battler that he was. Jimmy Smits is particularly riveting in the role of the father who seems unaware that his absolute control over the training of his kids is compensation for his own boyhood defeats. What is not at all easy to believe is that the man would turn down an offer of half a million dollars by the shark-like promoter, Nick Everson (Ron Perlman) in return for allowing him to advance the fight, but even discounting the lack of credibility at times, "Price of Glory" suffers in its shortage of originality. Absent the excitement generated by the powerful theater speakers as they pound out the Latino music, what we have is not much more than a made-for-TV film.
Rated PG-13. Running time: 118 minutes. (C) 2000 by Harvey Karten, film_critic@compuserve.com
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