Resurrecting the Champ (2007)

Director:

Rod Lurie

Writers (WGA):

Michael Bortman (screenplay) and
Allison Burnett (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

24 August 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Sport

Tagline:

Based on a true story, that was based on a lie.

Plot:

Up-and-coming sports reporter rescues a homeless man ("Champ") only to discover that he is, in fact, a boxing legend believed to have passed away. What begins as an opportunity to resurrect Champ's story and escape the shadow of his father's success becomes a personal journey as the ambitious reporter reexamines his own life and his relationship with his family. |

Plot Keywords:

Reporter | Homeless Man | Boxing | Marital Separation | Separated

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Samuel L. Jackson	...	Champ
Josh Hartnett	...	Erik Kernan Jr.
Kathryn Morris	...	Joyce Kernan
Dakota Goyo	...	Teddy Kernan
Alan Alda	...	Ralph Metz
Rachel Nichols	...	Polly
Teri Hatcher	...	Andrea Flak
Kristen Shaw	...	Perlmutter
Nick Sandow	...	Marciano
David Paymer	...	Whitley
Harry Lennix	...	Bob Satterfield Jr.
Peter Coyote	...	Ike Epstein
Ryan McDonald	...	Kenny
Chris Ippolito	...	Jaws
Jameson Trenholm	...	Runt

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some violence and brief language.

Runtime:

112 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

USA:PG-13 | Singapore:PG | Finland:K-11 | Singapore:M18 (DVD rating) | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Company:

Phoenix Pictures

Trivia:

The story was inspired by the article "Resurrecting the Champ" by J.R. Moehringer which appeared in the Los Angeles Times Magazine in 1997; although the article indeed purportedly focused on Bob Satterfield, there are various other differences with the true story. Moehringer had no children, and his father was not well-known though he did abandon his family when the writer was an infant.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Erik leaves Champ at the house they were conversing in front of, Champ is shown standing on the curb as he contemplates knocking on the door of the house. Then, as Erik is driving away, he looks into his rear-view mirror, and Champ is instantly shown standing in the middle of the street instead of on the curb.

Quotes:

Champ: [Stares at the money Erik gave him] You helped the Champ when he was down and halfway out! I won't forget this.

Movie Connections:

References "Weeds" (2005)

Soundtrack:

Got Your Wealth

Terrific, understated performance by Samuel L. Jackson

Jackson stands out in this heartfelt movie about a sports writer (played by Josh Hartnett), estranged from his wife (Cold Case's Kathryn Morris), who works to shine the limelight once more on a former boxer (Jackson) who has become homeless. In addition to Jackson, there's great work from young Dakota Goyo as Hartnett's son, and Rachel Nichols as the co-worker who assists in the writer's research. This is director Rod Lurie's most personal film to date, and it gives you some serious issues to think about, very rare in this threequel-laden summer. There's also a surprise appearance from one of our best character actors, and Alan Alda does a fine turn as Hartnett's boss.