PRICE OF GLORY

Once again the world of boxing is brought to the big screen in PRICE OF GLORY, a movie depicting the losses, victories and sacrifices of a violent sport. Like the ROCKY series, this movie gives a more involved look at the family behind the fighter, though the content used to do so includes foul language and extreme violence.

Jimmy Smits is Arturo Ortega, a former boxer whose dreams were ended after a corrupt match. His involvement in boxing now carries to his sons, who are depicted at a young age. Arturo trains and teaches them, but is cautioned by his wife Rita (Maria Del Mar) to keep the right perspective. Arturo says he understands, but he stresses the importance of being a champion. Though his sons are just kids, he pushes them hard. When the eldest son, Jimmy, loses a fight, Arturo is so angry that he picks up a bag and throws it against a row of lockers, then grabs Jimmy and shoves him up against the lockers too. This type of pressure continues as the movie depicts the brothers as young men, competing for careers in boxing.

Now in his twenties, Jimmy (played by Clifton Collins Jr. of LIGHT IT UP) and his father still clash, with Arturo being a cold father when it comes to boxing. After Jimmy wins a big fight, Arturo tells him that he thinks Jimmy’s boxing days are over and to “get out while he can.” Upset by his father’s words, Jimmy resorts to drinking and drugs, but is rebuked and helped by the family, including Arturo. Knowing boxing means everything to his father, so Jimmy persuades Arturo to let him try again.

A former Golden Gloves boxer, actor Jon Seda plays the part of Sonny, the middle brother. Sonny’s desire to marry his girlfriend and support her with his boxing upsets Arturo, who disgraces the girl’s family with his coarse joking and anger. The youngest son, Johnny, merely laughs along with Arturo when he does this. Having the same drive and desire to be the champion, the 17-year-old becomes the gleam in Arturo’s eye, and also grabs the attention of boxing promoter Nick Everson (Ron Perlman of TV’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST). Everson offers Arturo a deal for all three of the sons, especially Johnny. At first, Arturo resists, but then tells Everson he’ll think about it if he’ll set Jimmy up in a big match. Everson agrees to do so, though it is expected that Jimmy will likely lose.

Meanwhile, Sonny sees that interest in Jimmy and Johnny grows, but that he is being overlooked. Questioning his father, who tells him, “It’s not your turn yet,” Sonny decides to sign with Everson himself, creating a distance between him and his father. Arturo continues to take things further, until his stubbornness costs him his family.

PRICE OF GLORY mixes the modern, money-making world of boxing amidst a backdrop of Latino influences and culture. Smits as Arturo gives a strong performance, and during the screening there were a few reactions from the audience at the callousness of his character. The moral elements of the movie didn’t stand a chance and were far outweighed by the violence typical of boxing films. Numerous scenes of faces and bodies being pummeled is excessive enough during sports segments on the news, let alone its glorification in a movie.

Despite the movie’s violent depictions, the redemptive element of a man coming to understand his role as a father gives insight to the toll violence can take on a family. Values in some of the characters are made evident with a desire for marriage, the importance and commitment of family, the wisdom of a loving wife, and the dissolving of conflict. These elements are positive, though parents should exercise extreme caution in allowing older children and teens to see this movie.