The Boxer

1997 Drama

Jim Sheridan (In the Name of the Father) directed this drama about a Belfast boxer, filmed with Dublin locations substituting for Belfast. Released after his 14-year prison sentence for IRA activities, 32-year-old Danny Flynn (Daniel Day-Lewis) returns to his old neighborhood and sees former-flame Maggie (Emily Watson), who has an unhappy marriage and now raises her son alone while her husband is in prison. To get back in the boxing ring, Danny gets the community-center gym back in operation and starts training, encountering opposition from militant IRA members, including Harry (Gerald McSorley). Danny and Maggie grow closer, but after a bomb sets off events leading to the destruction of the gym, Danny leaves for a disastrous boxing match in London. More grim situations arise when he returns to Belfast.

Director: Jim Sheridan

Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Emily Watson,Brian Cox, Ken Stott, Gerard McSorley

 30 Reviews  6 Awards

Reviews

  • It's a tribute to Day-Lewis that he can play a character like Danny -- cautious, withdrawn, inarticulate -- and endow him an eloquence and grace that aren't dependent on language. Without him, The Boxer might still be a powerful tale of loyalty and love, with a core of moral complexity; with Day-Lewis in the lead, it approaches greatness.

    Edward Guthmann - The San Francisco Chronicle

    27 April 2013

  • Through quietly fiery performances by Day-Lewis and Watson, as well as novel-like depth and complexity, The Boxer not only avoids these pitfalls but emerges as a thoroughly engrossing movie.

    Keith Phipps - The A.V. Club

    27 April 2013

  • Writer-director Jim Sheridan, co-screenwriter Terry George, and Sheridan's favorite actor (and Oscar winner for My Left Foot) Daniel Day-Lewis reunite in The Boxer with a mellower political message that translates, roughly, into ''Can't we all just get along?''

    Lisa Schwarzbaum - Entertainment Weekly

    27 April 2013

  • Amid a cacophony of cack-handed hijacks of Irish politics for Hollywood gain, Jim Sheridan's clear, intelligent directorial voice once again hits the strident notes of realism.

    - Empire

    27 April 2013

  • Director Jim Sheridan, who has collaborated with writer Terry George on In the Name of the Father and Some Mother's Son clearly understands the weariness that inevitably consumes not only long, seemingly irresolvable conflicts but stories about them.

    Russell Smith - Austin Chronicle

    27 April 2013

Awards

  • Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Theatrical Releases

    American Society of Cinematographers (1998)

     

  • Jim Sheridan

    Berlin International Film Festival (1998)

  • Best Director - Motion Picture

    Golden Globes (1998)

     

  • Best European Film (Mejor Película Europea)

    Goya Awards (1999)

  • Peace

    Political Film Society (1999)

     

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