★ 6 / 10
Split Decisions" has a very heavy reliance upon
kevin2019
"Split Decisions" has a very heavy reliance upon a selection of stereotypes we have seen countless times before and there is more than a faint whiff of "Rocky"…
"Split Decisions" has a very heavy reliance upon a selection of stereotypes we have seen countless times before and there is more than a faint whiff of "Rocky" (1976) wafting around in the air - in the best possible way of course. And even though you spend much of the running time negotiating the gamut of familiar characters and situations on offer this still manages to be a very vivid and absorbing film which makes for strangely compulsive viewing for some inexplicable and unfathomable reason. The boxing sequences themselves are extremely convincing in their portrayal of uncompromising and unrelenting brutality and even though the web of events which has been woven is concluded in the most abrupt way imaginable which is much too convenient for its own good it sure as hell beats the alternative of having a plethora of inconclusive and unresolved loose ends.
★ 4 / 10
Gene Hackman tribute month #5: Stubborn Irish father/boxing coach
Coventry
On February 18th of 2025, the mighty actor Gene Hackman passed away. I have a tradition to pay tribute to a deceased cinema deity by watching/reviewing one or…
On February 18th of 2025, the mighty actor Gene Hackman passed away. I have a tradition to pay tribute to a deceased cinema deity by watching/reviewing one or two of their lesser known (but hopefully worthwhile) movies. For Gene Hackman, however, I want to expand the tribute. He was such an indescribably brilliant and versatile actor. Since he's listed in my top 5 of greatest performers of ALL times, he deserves a full month of homage. Rest in peace, Mr. Hackman, and thanks for the many great movies.Speaking of lesser known, this might be Hackman's most obscure effort. Together with one or two other titles on his resume, it was the only title I never heard of before. Understandably so, because "Split Decisions" is a mundane and unremarkable sports drama/thriller, and Gene Hackman is obviously TOO good in comparison with the script, the production values, and the rest of the cast. He stars as the old-fashioned and stubborn Irish coach in New York, and father of two multi-talented boxers. He has a difficult relationship with the oldest, Ray, because he chose for professional boxing and does fights for dubious promotors. He focuses on his youngest son Eddie instead, because he combines boxing with studying and aims to partake in the Olympics. When Ray is put under pressure to lose a prestigious fight, he refuses and gets murdered. Eddie wants to take over the fight against the notorious Latino boxer Pedroza, but then he needs his father's coaching help."Split Decisions" is hopelessly clichéd, predictable, ineffectively sentimental, and quite frankly rather boring. Everything looks cheap and rushed, especially the editing and the available filming locations, and there isn't a single story "twist" you can't predict. There are several known names in the cast (Jennifer Beals, Craig Sheffer, James Tolkan, Jeff Fahay, ...) but they all stand in the shadow of Gene Hackman (and he's not even giving his best).
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· 500 ratings
5.3/10
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Won't download in 720p or 1080p , can someone seed please, thanks