Review by John Delia
The movie Hands of Stone follows the life of world champion boxer Roberto Duran. Well-acted by a fine cast, the film plays out much like the movie Ali where the top boxer stunned the world capturing the heavyweight crown. With Duran, the story gets a glazing of white wash, turns bullish and then a bit too sentimental for my taste. That said, I did enjoy the production value and the boxing action that looked very realistic.
From a kid Roberto Duran imagined being a fighter, but the small village in Panama had little need for a youngster with a dream. Having to prove himself set the tone for what would turn out to be the greatest fighter who went from lightweight to middle weight claiming four titles along the way.
But it was not an easy road for Duran (Edgar Ramirez) finding someone who would believe in him until one night during a fight world renown boxing trainer Ray Arcel (Robert De Niro) gets impressed by his power. Arcel hesitates to take on the fighter due to a career mistake that found him on the wrong side of a Mafia deal, but he takes a chance on the fighter. When he gets Duran a fight on a national level, the boxing world is stunned by the fighter’s ability to take down opponents in the first round.
So begins the life of a boxer who would never back off in the ring against the likes of boxing great Sugar Ray Leonard. Director and screenwriter Jonathan Jakubowicz (Secuestro Express) does a very good job of showing the brutality of boxing and the psychological challenge that the fighters go through to beat an opponent. He easily brings out the egotistical personality of his main character who was not only a bull in the ring, but a braggart who taunted his opponents. Outside the ring Jakubowicz shows another side of Duran the family man and benefactor who was considered a god by the Panamanian people.
But the film would never have been as good without the talent of Edgar Ramirez who captures the tough hot headed Duran and takes him to the top of the brutal sport. Duran’s only weakness was also his strength, his wife Felicidad played by Ana De Armas. The chemistry between the two is magnetic and gives the film the much needed human emotional kick needed to show Duran’s softer side.
In his corner actor Robert De Niro pulls off a Sylvester Stallone with a coaching performance that’s good, but not his best. As Arcel he works on Duran slowly bringing him around to more of a boxer than a street fighter. But, Arcel also has to accept the egotistical show Duran puts on knowing that it’s what the champion needs to soften his opponents before facing them in the ring.
Hands of Stone has been rated R for language throughout and some sexuality/nudity. The fierce boxing in the film does add an element of violence that may be a bit much for the timid, so keep this in mind when choosing to bring immature teens to a showing.
FINAL ANALYSIS: A cool boxing film that comes on like a bull, but finishes like a lamb. (B-)
Additional Film Information:
Cast: Edgar Ramirez, Robert De Niro, Rubén Blades, Usher Raymond, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Ana De Armas, IV, Ellen Barkin and John Turturro.
Directed and written by: Jonathan Jakubowicz
Genre: Biography, Drama, Sports, Boxing
MPAA Rating: Â R for language throughout and some sexuality/nudity
Running Time: 1 hr. 56 min.
Release Date: August 26, 2016
Distributed by: The Weinstein Company