#arthur hill

The Champ (1979). Billy Flynn is an ex-champion boxer who was KO’d by booze and gambling. When the wealthy, estranged mother of his young son begins trying to lure the boy away from him, Flynn must return to the ring to provide for his child.

I’m a bit of a sucker for a boxing movie. There’s something about the way they tend to allow space for male characters (and actors) to be vulnerable, as if the violence of the sport opens up a sort of personal tenderness. This movie has that in spades with Jon Voight playing a father desperate to stay connected to his son, and he really plays well into Billy’s flaws and needs. The plot does veer into melodrama, but still. It’s pretty good. 7.5/10.