Distributed by
Pioneer Entertainment Europe

Cat.no: PLFEB 37661

Cert: 15

Running time: 109 minutes

Sides: 2 (CLV)

Year: 1997

Pressing: 1998

Chapters: 33 (16/16+1)

Sound: Dolby Surround

Widescreen: 1.85:1

Price: £14.99

Extras : Original Theatrical Trailer, plus Trailers for "Mercury Rising" and "Dante's Peak"

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Director:

Jim Sheridan (My Left Foot, In The Name Of The Father)

Producers:

Jim Sheridan and Arthur Lappin

Screenplay

Jim Sheridan and Terry George

Music:

Gavin Friday and Maurice Seezer

Cast:

Danny Flynn: Daniel Day-Lewis (The Bounty, The Crucible, In The Name of the Father, Last of the Mohicans, My Left Foot, Room With a View, The Unbearable Lightness of Being)
Maggie: Emily Watson (Breaking The Waves, The Mill On The Floss)
Ike Weir: Ken Stott (Fever Pitch, TV: "Rhodes")
Harry: Gerard McSorley
Joe Hamill: Brian Cox (Chain Reaction, Desperate Measures, Hidden Agenda, Kiss The Girls, Iron Will, The Long Kiss Goodnight, Manhunter, Rob Roy, TV: "Inspector Morse", "Sharpe")
Matt McGuire: Kenneth Cranham (Hellbound: Hellraiser 2, Prospero's Books, Tale Of A Vampire, TV: "Chimera", "Inspector Morse", "Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit", "Young Indiana Jones Chronicles")
Liam: Ciaran Fitzgerald (Into The West, TV: "Young Person's Guide To Becoming A Rock Star")

The Boxer features Daniel Day-Lewis and Emily Watson as star-crossed lovers torn between unquestioning loyalty to the ties of tradition and the passion they share in this latest film from Jim Sheridan.

When Danny Flynn returns to his Belfast neighbourhood after 14 years in prison, all he wants is to find peace, resume his career and reclaim the love of the woman who has remained etched in his mind. As they slowly embrace the possibilities of renewed romance, they realise cultural taboos stand in the way amd fighting for love could cost them their lives.

However, this soon turns into another bog-standard film about the IRA. Danny gets involved with semtex while resuming his boxing career (the boxing consultant was Barry McGuigan) which leads to him getting shot at. Meanwhile other people are offed for their involvement, and it doesn't take too long before you begin not to care whether Danny and Maggie get to live out their days together.

Although the film isn't much to shout about the picture quality is superb, the crisp colours bringing a bit of life to the drab scenes of Northern Ireland and doing justice to the fast-paced boxing scenes. The widescreen image is framed at the original theatrical ratio of 1.85:1.

For a film such as it is, it's not a particular surround-sound-fest, but scenes involving background music really stand out, not to mention the memorable theme tune.

32 chapters punctuate the film which is very good indeed for a 109 minute film. Afterwards comes the original theatrical trailer, plus trailers for two unrelated films, Mercury Rising and Dante's Peak. However, it has a lot to live up to when compared to the $40 NTSC LD Special Edition, which contains an audio commentary from the director and producer, a making-of featurette entitled "Fighting For Peace: Inside The Boxer" which includes interviews with the cast and crew, deleted scenes, production photos and the trailer.

Overall, if you're just after the film and aren't too fussed about a lack of extras but are concerned about quality, then this release is for you. Personally, if I was in the buying seat I'd be inclined to investigate the NTSC LD Special Edition first before making the final choice.

FILM	 		: *
PICTURE QUALITY		: *****
SOUND QUALITY		: ****
EXTRAS			: **
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OVERALL			: ***

Review copyright © Dominic Robinson, 1999.