Fight Night (aka Rigged)

This is a random one I picked out a Blockbuster while trying to find something different on my quest to see what is possible with a super low budget. I picked it for obvious reasons when you see the poster. In a smart marketing decision to remove Dublin, the main character, from the DVD cover, they got the most out of their little boxing underdog genre film, appealing to lesbians and straight men alike. In fact, Dublin is nowhere to be found on the DVD case. Interesting. Maybe because he is no Brad Pitt. His "charm" just comes across as bad acting. I mean he is supposed to be a bad promoter, but it always came across as so fake charming. He was far too one note and didn't have the depth and struggle, even when facing his mom for the first time after 6 years, to become endearing. His faux confidence was just irritating and his delivery was not at all working.

Kat, played by uber newcomer Rebecca Neuenswander, (seriously, she has one credit and her resume is as slim as some of the girls I get in my auditions), had many more genuine moments. She had the badass tough girl, fighting her past part down and she actually played detached in a way that drew you in and left you wanting more. Some of her her moments with Dublin were awkward. Their relationship was hit and miss. Sometimes she nailed a zinger that was dead funny and sometimes it was like whoa, missed that one. Her physicality was generally good and I did believe she was a bad ass boxer, but in the same way that Kagan and Tim said my actress didn't understand completely the depth of her wounds after being tortured, I would say Rebecca didn't understand her wounds either. Especially after her hand was broken. That kind of pain fucks with you. Even if it is something you deal with daily, it fucks with you. Like you need it to feel alive and you are always aware of it. For the discomfort or the rush. More awareness of the wounds and the reality of getting hit by someone twice your size was definitely needed.

Overall the underdog narrative was completely stock, but the part about Kat being a lesbian running from her mormon family and in denial because she wants to go back, didn't wind up being as disappointing as it could have been. From a newbie male director, I completely expected Kat and Dublin to wind up together and every time I saw it leading there, it unexpectedly drew back. That was refreshing. It was also great how it took the "tough ass fighter has to be a lesbian" stereotype and used it, but played with it as well. Dublin's box munching jokes actually worked to the advantage of the film in undermining the stereotype. Shock. Also, it would have completely killed her narrative if she went straight, because she clearly wasn't and that would have wrecked the entire backstory they constructed for her as to why she fights. Obviously if she could just be straight, she wouldn't have to fight, because she could go home. They do kind of leave the end mysterious as to her relationship with Dublin and she definitely looks way girlier here than anywhere else which was a little disappointing, but at least they left it vague.

Of course the end was ridiculous. Yay, she won and now what? Long unnecessary agony and monologues that avoids the real confrontation and drama. A scene between Kat and her family was ripe for tension. Also it was very unfulfilling to not have her stop running and face herself and finally accept her sexuality. This could have been done very economically and been a great little scene to send this movie out with more than just a boxing win, but a personal triumph as well. It could have also infused Dublin and her's relationship with a little more energy at the end. Some quippy exchange where he makes fun of her, but ultimately accepts her for who she is (like her parents wouldn't) as she accepts herself and finds her new familial support in Dublin. Make sure we get some sort of answer to both the characters needs in the final resolution!! And don't go for a one hit surprise when you could have sustained tension and development.