The Boxer [WS]

Director: Jim Sheridan Jim Sheridan

Overview

"The Boxer appears in an impressive collector's edition that offers an array of interesting features. ""Fighting for Peace: Inside the Boxer"" provides a worthwhile overview of the production and writer/director Jim Sheridan's thoughts on the project. It runs for 23 minutes and also includes comments from Barry McGuigan, the real-life boxer who was an inspiration for the story. Daniel Day-Lewis and the other actors also discuss their experiences and display an honest and genuine passion for the material. The disc also includes 16 minutes of deleted scenes, which appear with a lesser-quality transfer. They give the characters more depth and make the environment appear even harsher. A one-minute alternate ending also exists and provides a slightly more upbeat conclusion. The remaining supplements include feature-length commentaries from Sheridan and producer Arthur Lappin, production notes, cast and crew biographies, and the original theatrical trailer. The Boxer utilizes a decent 1.66:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer that nicely conveys the bleak, cold atmosphere. Little grain and few defects exist on the picture. The 5.1 channel Dolby Digital audio track is also solid but falls a bit short of the premier level. The dialogue is easily understandable, and the sound effects do spring well from the entire sound field."

Product Details

Release Date:	07/08/1998
UPC:	0025192024023
Original Release:	1997
Rating:	R
Source:	Universal Studios
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	1:50:00
Sales rank:	41,301

Special Features

Feature commentary with director Jim Sheridon; Feature commentary with producer Arthur Lappin; "Fighting for Peace: Inside the Boxer," an original featurette on the making of the film featuring interviews with director Jim Sheridan, Daniel Day-Lewis, Emily Watson, Ciaran Fitzgerald, and boxing consultant Barry McGuigan, plus never-before-seen, behind-the-scenes footage; Cast and filmmaker bios; Theatrical trailer; Alternate ending; Deleted scenes; Film highlights; Production notes

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Emily Watson	Maggie
Daniel Day-Lewis	Danny Flynn
Brian Cox	Joe Hamill
Ken Stott	Ike Weir
Gerard McSorley	Harry
Eleanor Methven	Patsy
Ciaran Fitzgerald	Liam
David McBlain	Sean
Damien Denny	Eddie Carroll
Clayon Stewart	Akim
Kenneth Cranham	Matt Maguire
Frank Coughlan	Prison Officer
Daragh Donnelly	Prison Officer
Sean Kearns	Prison Officer
Lorraine Pilkington	Bride
Niall Shanahan	Groom
John Wall	Priest
Maria McDermottroe	Betty
Carol Scanlan	Wedding Guest
Kate Perry	Wedding Guest
Andrea Irvine	Wedding Guest
Joan McGarry	Wedding Guest
Theresa McComb	Wedding Guest
Catherine Dunne	Wedding Guest,Wedding Guest,IRA Man
Kerrie Duggan	Wedding Guest
Derbhla McClelland	Wedding Guest
Oliver Maguire	Prison Governor,Policeman at Checkpoint
Sandra Corbally	Cake Decorator
Tess Sheridan	Pianist,IRA Man,IRA Man,Peter Mallon,Girl with Drinks
David Hayman	Joe Hamill's Aide
Pat Mulryan	IRA Man
Peter O'Donoghue	IRA Man
Tommy O'Neill	IRA Man,Doorman at Gym
Josie Doherty	Singer
Joseph Rea	Agnes' Son
Joan Sheehy	Agnes
Larry Byrne	Old Man in Shelter
Joe Gallagher	Car Bomb Driver
Sean Brunett	Boy on Bicycle
James Hayes	Bomb Victim
Richie Piggott	Sean's Helper
Jack Waters	Soldier on Roof
Mark Mulholland	Old Man in Gym
John Cowley	Old Man in Gym
Don Foley	Old Man in Gym
Tim McDonnell	Caretaker of Gym
Philip Sutcliffe	Boxer on Pads
Britta Smith	Mrs. Boots
Gavin Kennedy	Bootsy
Eamon Brown	1st Fight Referee,Liam's Opponent
Martin Lynch	Journalist
Noel O'Donovan	1st Fight Timekeeper
Joe Colgan	Danny's Cornerman
Nye Heron	Eddie's Trainer
Paul Ronan	Eddie's Cornerman
Liam Carney	Mr. Walsh
Veronica Duffy	Mrs. Walsh
Des Braiden	Mr. Orr
Joan Brosnan Walsh	Mrs. Orr
Sean Donaghy	Mickey
Brian Milligan	Ned
Vinny Murphy	Danny's Supporter
Mick Nolan	Danny's Supporter
Berts Folan	Danny's Supporter
Juliet Cronin	1st Fight Cardgirl
Mickey Tohill	Billy Patterson
Ian McElhinney	Reggie Bell
Conor Bradford	TV Announcer
Anna Meegan	Woman at 2nd Fight
Al Morris	2nd Fight Referee
Ian Thompson	Child at 2nd Fight
Paul Wesley	Danny's Sparring Partner
Michael James Ford	Head Waiter
John Cooke	Toastmaster
Cornelius Carr	London Fighter
Norman Kelly	London Fighter
Gerry Storey	Cornerman
Fred Tiedt	London Fight Referee
Jer O'Leary	London Fight Timekeeper
Jules Kingelesi	Akim's Cornerman
Dennis Mika	Akim's Cornerman
David Heap	Maitre D'
John Hewitt	Ike's Drinking Buddy
Janine McGuinness	London Fight Cardgirl
Tommy O'Neil	Actor
Paul Simonon	Composer
Gavin Friday	Composer
Maurice Seezer	Composer

Technical Credits

Jim Sheridan

Terry George

Jim Sheridan	Director,Screenwriter,Producer
Terry George	Screenwriter
Arthur Lappin	Producer
Patrick Condren	Stunts
Yves De Bono	Special Effects
Nuala Moiselle	Casting
Kieran Horgan	Sound/Sound Designer

Editorial Reviews

Director Jim Sheridan and his frequent writing collaborator Terry George craft this superb drama that examines the personal impact of Ireland's Troubles on one morally conflicted ex-convict. Most of the director's previous works are centered on characters who are their own worst enemies, blind in some significant way to how they have caused their own suffering. Here, the filmmakers have given stars Daniel Day-Lewis and Emily Watson a pair of worldly wise emotional veterans who are all too keenly aware of the flawed decision-making that led to their downfall. As the story's hero, Danny Flynn, Day-Lewis is one step from defeated, struggling to make a difference by molding the minds and hearts of his neighborhood's children before hateful rhetoric robs them of their futures, and of hope. Ultimately, The Boxer refuses to take the easy way out, becoming a heart-wrenching film about the inevitable failure of redemption in a system of violence. It's a stark, unforgiving, and spare drama, seemingly small on the surface, with things to say that linger, dark and awful, about humanity's tragic acceptance of unthinkable cycles of ruin.