Cardboard
Boxer
(2016/Well Go USA Blu-ray)
Picture:
B Sound: B Extras: D Film: C+
Well
Go USA (known mainly for Asian film releases) go the indie route with
Knate Gwaltney's directorial debut Cardboard
Boxer
(2016), it's newest Blu-ray release that's aimed towards crowds that
enjoy a little true to life drama. Well-made from a production
standpoint, yet ultimately bleak, the film has two great performances
by Thomas Haden Church and Terence Howard. but ultimately has some
predictable and often times cheesy plot points that aim to pull at
the heart strings.
Cardboard
Boxer
also stars Boyd Holbrook, Rhys Wakefield, Macy Gray, and Marlo
Thomas.
Living
homeless on the streets of L.A. and desperate, Willie (Church) finds
that most people are not too kind to him. He sleeps in a cardboard
box on the street and is constantly in danger from his urban
surroundings. Shifting through a garbage dumpster one day, he finds
a young girl's diary and it's contents strike him. Willie ends up in
hand to hand fights to entertain rich kids and earn a bit of cash on
the side. Along the way, he meets Pope (Howard) and a others that
are homeless like him that ultimately change his life.
Some
scenes of the film are pretty powerful and really make you think of
what it would be like to be completely hopeless. Some of the fight
scenes are pretty brutal and real and Church pulls off a strong
willed yet slightly off man - here is an actor that deserves some
bigger roles as of late.
Cardboard
Boxer
is presented in 1080p high definition with a widescreen aspect ratio
of 1.85:1 that looks sharp on Blu-ray disc with fine details
throughout. The night scenes look perfect on disc with nice contrast
and soft tones. The sound mix is a lossless DTS-HD MA (Master Audio)
5.1 mix that is sharp and consistent throughout. The punches are
nice and loud and the environments in the city are pronounced in
scenes in the city that help bring out the realism.
The
only extras are a trailer and previews for other upcoming releases.
-
James Lockhart
https://www.facebook.com/jamesharlandlockhartv/
