Review of Play It To the Bone

Introduction

This is essentially a road movie meets Raging Bull. A boxing match is due to take place in Vegas, but when one boxer is high on cocaine, and the other ends up dead, the promoters have to find two boxers to take their place – enter Harrelson & Banderas, two boxing friends down on their luck who want to have a chance at a title fight. In order to get to Vegas they enlist the help of Lolita Davidovich, a woman who has had relationships with both of them, and is also in possession of the flashy car that they both need to arrive into town with. The first half of the movie documents their journey to Vegas, the other half on the boxing match itself.

The film tries to pit itself as a comedy sports movie, and while it hits in places, it never really establishes itself as a good, laugh out loud comedy or as a great buddy movie. Sure, the leads are likeable and the chemistry between the three is acceptable, but never inspiring. The fight scenes are well staged, however it gets a little tiring watching each fall to the floor only to get up at the count of nine so often – seems a little lame and clichéd.

Video

The picture is an anamorphic 2.35:1 aspect ratio and is generally very good. The picture is very clean, skin tones are superb and shadow details are excellent. Facial details are important in a film like this as we get to see each blow to the head that Banderas and Harrelson deliver to each other. Early on the fight, Harrelson develops a cut above his right eye that looks wincingly painful each time the same spot is punched. Whilst not a gob-smacking picture, this does everything that DVD promises you – its clean and gives you lots of lovely detail.

Audio

There is nothing to fault in the sound department either. The road trip that takes up the first half of the movie is very dialogue centred with a few musical cues in the main LR channels and ambient effects for the rear. But where the action can seem a little clichéd on screen, the director has used sound to convey punches with great imagination, and this is where things get quite exciting. The crowds start off very quiet, but get louder and louder with each passing round. The punches sound realistic, but then comes a “thunder punch” which grips the bass cones of each speaker and throws the sound out at you. It really dips deep giving you that “inside the punched head” feel. Very good.

Features

Few to really take any notice of, there is a small featurette which is the usual extended trailer. There are interviews with Banderas and Harrelson that take the form of printed questions, and then video clips of them answering. Finally there is the trailer for the film, which made it look funnier than it actually turned out to be.

Conclusion

Not a bad movie, but not a great one either. Glad I watched it, but one that won’t get too much airing on the DVD player. If you haven’t bought, I suggest rental.