PRICE OF GLORY - A Film Review by Jerry Saravia
PRICE OF GLORY
In the last five years, independent films have become more and more like Hollywood films in terms of genre, formulas, and general sappiness. Consider "The Tao of Steve," a low-budget film that resembles a corny Hollywood romance with a neat and tidy happy ending. "Price of Glory" falls under the same category: a boxing film full of cliches and a wishy-washy ending. The big difference is that "Price of Glory" aims to be something more, and heads for a wrongheaded climax with no payoff.
Jimmy Smits is Arturo Ortega, a former boxer who wants his children to become boxers. He wants them to have the life he never had. In the opening black-and-white flashback, we see a young Arturo beaten to a bloody pulp in what was ultimately a fixed fight. Since then, he lost the passion and nerve to continue boxing - he knew when to quit.
The problem is that Arturo doesn't know when to quit when it comes to his sons. Nevertheless, as the boys grow older, Sonny (Jon Seda), Jimmy (Clifton Collins, Jr.) and Johnny (Ernesto Hernandez) become the "Fighting Ortegas" yet it is Johnny, the youngest and meanest of the bunch, who becomes the likely prizefighter to become heavyweight champion. This means a lot to his father, and naturally to the Latino community in their hometown of New Mexico. But when opportunity knocks, family squabbles take over. Arturo is their trainer and their promoter, but an outside fight promoter, Nick Everson (Ron Perlman) wants to represent the promising Johnny and the other boys. Will Arturo let go, or will the sons follow the glitz from Nick's promotion?
"Price of Glory" has one major flaw and that is the character of Arturo - he is a man trying to live his dream through his sons. The sons know this but it takes Arturo a long time to come to this realization. And when tragedy comes between them, Arturo continues to be naive and hurtful. Even his wife, Rita (Maria del Mar) can't reason with him. Arturo's personality is enough to cause the audience to lose their patience.
"Price of Glory" benefits from the fine, truthful performance by Jimmy Smits but the screenplay avoids dealing with some larger issues. Since Arturo refuses to sell out his sons, which is really for their own benefit, and since he feels he can redeem himself through their success, then why does he feel he can still bond with them and make them forget his harmful emotions after the tragedy that takes place prior to the climax? In fact, it is no suprise that the climax is headed for a "Rocky" finish, but why deny Smits' the expected payoff scene where his character can learn the error of his ways? The drama and tension peter out to some heavy melodrama that would seem at home in any daytime soap opera than in a real film about real people. Even the villainous promoter, Nick, seems more sympathetic and understanding than Arturo.
"Price of Glory" has some wonderful flavor to it in its cinematography and scenery, and I liked the sporadic depiction of a Latino family trying to come to terms with their troubles. The boxing fights are also well-directed but they do lack the thrust of "Raging Bull," which set the standard for all boxing movies. Still, "Price of Glory" is the kind of film that tastes good on the surface yet leaves a bitter after taste once you consider how the ingredients were mixed.
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