PRICE OF GLORY
A film review by Jeremiah Kipp
Copyright 2001 filmcritic.com
filmcritic.com
Father knows best. Ex-boxer Arturo Ortega (Jimmy Smits, Bless the Child) has placed his three sons on the assembly line for success, manufacturing them into perfect fighting champions. With his high intensity training, they'll be given the opportunities he never had. When his kids grow up and each decides to pursue opportunities in and out of the ring, the family unit starts to crumble. Can they weather the Price of Glory?
The standard repertoire of confrontation, hope, and tragedy all fall into place. Arturo thinks one of his boys doesn't have the makings of a champion, but maybe he isn't looking hard enough. Another son (Jon Seda, Selena) wants to get married, but settling down could ruin his shot at the big title. Familiar archetypes emerge and follow their routes to a traditional grand finale.
Price of Glory speaks from the voice of Latino experience, all too often ignored in mainstream cinema, and an appealing cast elevates this made-for-television material. Jimmy Smits stands out in particular, bringing an easy charisma and measured patience to the role of coach and father. The entire production is slick and well lit, if indistinct from the glossy Hollywood look of other dramas. The boxing seems a little too sanitary for such a violent sport, but the actors throw themselves into it with appropriate gusto.
While the intentions are good, Price of Glory is never confident enough to push the boundaries of the sports drama mold. Small, character driven moments get swept up in the single-minded mechanism of plot. It's those seemingly minor details that separate truly great stories from those which are merely adequate. Price of Glory, not unlike Arturo Ortega, barely misses its shot at the title.
RATING: **1/2
|------------------------------|
\ ***** Perfection \
\ **** Good, memorable film \
\ *** Average, hits and misses \
\ ** Sub-par on many levels \
\ * Unquestionably awful \
|------------------------------|
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Carlos Ávila Producers: Moctesuma Esparza, Arthur Friedman, Robert Katz Writer: Phil Berger Starring: Jimmy Smits, Jon Seda, Clifton Collins Jr., Ernesto Hernández, Maria del Mar, Ron Perlman
http://www.priceofglory.com/
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