The Champ (DVD, 2002)

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This solid tearjerker fits into the pantheon of 1970s cinema as sort of a ROCKY meets KRAMER VS. KRAMER. John Voight plays Billy, an ex-champ boxer who now works at the Hialeah racetrack in Florida with his idolizing son, T.J. (Ricky Schroder). Billy has drinking and gambling problems, but still manages to be a loving single father until the boy's long lost mother (Faye Dunaway) shows up wanting her son back, and the emotional showdown begins. It all leads up to a thrilling comeback fight, and lots of tears for all concerned. This was director Franco Zeffirelli's first feature filmed in America, and he put his Florida locations to inspired use. The supporting cast is filled with lots of familiar faces, including Elija Cook, Jack Warden and Joan Blondell. Still, this is basically a three-character piece, and they are each amazing: Voight is fearlessly raw and vulnerable as Billy; Schroder--only nine at the time--projects incredible emotion and charm, and Dunaway brings a great blend of glamour and insecurity to her role as the deadbeat mother who, just like Billy, wants a second chance at redemption.