Search - The Boxer [Widescreen] on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Questionable for Children Movie Release: 1997 DVD Release: 07/08/1998 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Audio Tracks: English, French Subtitles: English, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 1 hrs 50 mins Studio: Universal Studios Members Wishing: 7 Genres: Drama, Romantic Drama, Political Drama See Also: The Boxer [Widescreen]

Jim Sheridan (In the Name of the Father) directed this drama about a Belfast boxer, filmed with Dublin locations substituting for Belfast. Released after his 14-year prison sentence for IRA activities, 32-year-old Danny Flynn (Daniel Day-Lewis) returns to his old neighborhood and sees former-flame Maggie (Emily Watson), who has an unhappy marriage and now raises her son alone while her husband is in prison. To get back in the boxing ring, Danny gets the community-center gym back in operation and starts training, encountering opposition from militant IRA members, including Harry (Gerald McSorley). Danny and Maggie grow closer, but after a bomb sets off events leading to the destruction of the gym, Danny leaves for a disastrous boxing match in London. More grim situations arise when he returns to Belfast. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide

Daniel Day-Lewis - Danny Flynn
Emily Watson - Maggie
Brian Cox - Joe Hamill
Ken Stott - Ike Weir
Gerard McSorley - Harry

The Boxer appears in an impressive collector's edition that offers an array of interesting features. "Fighting for Peace: Inside the Boxer" provides a worthwhile overview of the production and writer/director Jim Sheridan's thoughts on the project. It runs for 23 minutes and also includes comments from Barry McGuigan, the real-life boxer who was an inspiration for the story. Daniel Day-Lewis and the other actors also discuss their experiences and display an honest and genuine passion for the material. The disc also includes 16 minutes of deleted scenes, which appear with a lesser-quality transfer. They give the characters more depth and make the environment appear even harsher. A one-minute alternate ending also exists and provides a slightly more upbeat conclusion. The remaining supplements include feature-length commentaries from Sheridan and producer Arthur Lappin, production notes, cast and crew biographies, and the original theatrical trailer. The Boxer utilizes a decent 1.66:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer that nicely conveys the bleak, cold atmosphere. Little grain and few defects exist on the picture. The 5.1 channel Dolby Digital audio track is also solid but falls a bit short of the premier level. The dialogue is easily understandable, and the sound effects do spring well from the entire sound field. ~ Dan Heaton, All Movie Guide