All Happy Families: Review. By Ayrton-Lewis Avery.
All Happy Families is the cliché story of a man (named Graham, played by Josh Radnor), whose brother (Will, played by Rob Huebel) is more successful than him, his mother is more successful, and his whole family is better than him. He is an aspiring actor, but has yet to get his big breakthrough. And meanwhile he lives in a horrible bachelor pad, dirty, eating cheese puffs as he contemplates his failures, and sometimes even sleeps on the couch.
The film begins with the quote “all happy families are alike, each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” Throughout, we have to ask, is that true? After all, this movie is so relatable, that I was wondering throughout, do I know a family like this? And a man who is dateless and childless, despite quickly aging, is trying to make something out of himself. There is such a contrast between him, his neighbors, and his family. Can we ever feel happy for this hero? We will find out.
What was first a successful career now becomes a horrible mess. After his brother is accused of sexual harassment, he suddenly wants to ruin Graham’s career. It becomes even more clear that the family is dysfunctional after his brother offers him cocaine, and his mother offers her grandson a sip of wine. Frankly, she could not have chosen a worse time to retire. Just as her career is ending, another one is being destroyed.
Unlike some other family films, the issues do not get resolved. Indeed, the issues grow more complicated. After all, a family is bad enough. Then add in girlfriends and their families too. However, the issue is the heart of the film. The entire first half felt boring enough. But as the problems grew more extreme, I was more drawn into the plot.
The film is not political either, despite being a portrait of bad masculinity. The film criticizes his behavior and shows him descending deeper into madness. But the rest of the family is also strange in their own way, like most moderately wealthy American families who split their time between gentrified Chicago and the all-white suburb. This family is exactly that kind of fake liberal, but the movie does not judge them or applaud them for this.
The most heartwarming motif in this is the plumber. At the beginning, Graham’s refusal to have the plumber fix anything is a symptom of his depression and failing career. Then throughout the film, the plumber reminds to ignore the detrimental influences around him and focus on bettering his life. Then the plumber gives him enough courage to ask out his girlfriend. The critical contrast of a successful working-class man in a wealthy neighborhood is the only thing ensuring our hero’s sanity.
Overall, this film is quite funny, while still grappling with some very serious themes.
Hollywood Is Finally Noticing Gaming’s Huge Fan Base
Creative arts have been crossing over and borrowing influence from each other’s respective pools for centuries—perhaps it’s taken Hollywood slightly longer to tune into gaming, as it’s a creative industry that has only recently established itself over the last decade and a half.
Sure, some of the greatest gaming titles generated billions of dollars worth of profit. Still, for Hollywood, which isn’t just a focal point in movie history but a broader depiction and figurehead for American arts, gaming still hadn’t proven itself to be an authentic influence on movie and TV ideas.
Exploring the Popularity of Traditional Gaming Sectors
That’s not to say indie film directors and creators weren’t exploring the options, but the big hitters with the big budgets in Los Angeles didn’t fancy exploring it in detail until recently. There are exceptions to this rule, such as casino gaming, which has been featured in Hollywood for over 100 years.
Some of the greatest films ever created, from Casablanca to Dr No, Casino Royale, and Casino (1995), all feature casino games with universal appeal and popularity. Some in the film industry will have casino gaming as a separate entity from gaming in the modern-day sense. While it is true that there are all types of casino games, some of which stretch back 400 years, and that the modern-day equivalent encompasses online providers and traditional ones, it’s fair to say that the casino gaming industry fell into the realms of traditional entertainment.
Hollywood, especially at the turn of this century, viewed gaming as a potential fad or something that wouldn’t have the legs to crossover and become profitable. Still, as the profit from the gaming industry became undeniable, it became impossible to ignore.
Early 21st Century
To say Hollywood is only now noticing the potential of the gaming industry is probably slightly off the mark. While it might not have realized the industry’s full potential immediately, there was a concerted and measured effort to try and bridge the gap between games and movies and bring more gamers into cinemas.
Angelina Jolie was the first A-lister Hollywood name to put her name and image behind a gaming crossover when she starred in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider in 2001. By all accounts, the film was a box office success, resulting in several more recent remakes that were pretty well-received by critics.
Looking to strike while the iron was hot, some film companies ramped up their interest in other popular video gaming titles. However, they didn’t quite reach the same popularity and audience as Angelina Jolie playing Lara Croft.
The following year, Resident Evil came out, and although critics heavily panned it, the collection of films and the franchise that has followed in the 22 years since have made it one of the most profitable film series based on a video game. It even took a stab at the 3D film revolution that emerged from the billion-dollar success of Avatar.
Both of these titles set the foundation for the remarkable success that gaming films have recently experienced since the beginning of this decade, and while many movie experts and critics thought it may have happened sooner, the growth in gaming communities and, crucially, the quality of animated movie design have been high.
The Golden Age of Gaming Movie Crossovers
In hindsight, it seemed pretty evident that fusing the highest-selling games of all time with cutting-edge animation and a big budget would be a pretty good recipe for a popular film. Although technically, the highest-grossing movie franchise based on a game is Pokemon, a lot of that is because there are over two dozen movies within the franchise.
Recent success stories, like Sonic the Hedgehog and Super Mario Bros., have shown that there’s a gigantic market of gamers, whether current gamers or those looking to reignite the nostalgia of retro games, who are willing to travel to the cinema to see what these crossovers have to offer.
Sonic The Hedgehog 2 scooped up nearly half a billion at the box office, and with Jim Carrey lined up for Sonic The Hedgehog 3, it finally appears as though Hollywood isn’t just noticing the potential of gaming crossovers but actively putting their money where their mouth is.
Final Thoughts
Reinventing or visiting ideas and characters from previous generations is a familiar blueprint in Hollywood. However, just because they consistently try this formula, doesn’t always mean it will succeed. There are plenty of gaming crossover films that have struggled to break even at the box office, but now that the genre is seeing significant budgets, A-listers scrambling to get their name involved, and animation that is truly top of the range, it feels like there’s plenty more legs in this golden age.
This gives the directors who tackle these crossovers carte blanche to create films that will become some of the year’s highest-grossing. Although Hollywood isn’t in the business of giving directors free rein, if it’s an idea that works and sequels and franchises continue to bring in profits from the enormous, global gaming fan base, then get used to the idea of seeing these films on our screens for a good while.
Movies are something we love to make a part of our past time; they make us feel happiness, sadness, and even devastating. History books and movies are varied, and getting into the Hall of Fame could be hard. It is necessary not just to have a good script but also good actors, a storyline, and effects.
Today, we will talk about the best movies about boxing, where the strongest one is not synonymous with winning. Films that we are going to talk about feature plots centered around a sports topic. Our editorial team also takes into account documentaries and short films, as well as classics, that are loved by the fandom.
The Golden Age of Boxing Movies
Strong bodies, left hooks, jabs, and steel jaws are the recipe for a good fighting movie. Even though the hero always wins in movies, in real life, it’s a bit different; to win, you need training, will, and a bit of luck. Nevertheless, this sports arena would be fruitful if we were part of the iGaming community. There are people winning millions and thousands of dollars in online boxing and betting, so there is always a chance we can be the next ones. However, the first step to getting into online betting is finding a good, safe platform with an international license and a good background. This is why our editorial team strongly recommends this website. It is safe, totally secure, and a sponsor of the world’s best eSports and football teams. Take a look for yourself!
Rocky (1976)
We all chanted: “Rocky, Rocky, Rocky!” This might not be the best film of all time, but sure as hell, this is the most loved movie by many people ever.
Sylvester Stallone, also known as the Italian stallion, played the main character Rocky and wrote the script of this movie that forever changed the makeup of American movies and created a whole new world for sports films.
The movie is based on the idea of the American dream, where everything is possible to get, no matter how hard the situation, with hard work, training, and persistence, Rocky unveiled the next movie star of our times, inspiring a whole country of working-class heroes to go above and beyond their dreams.
Raging Bull (1980)
The Italian filmmaker of “GoodFellas” and other culturally iconic movies, Martin Scorsese, went one step further with Robert DeNiro making one of the best boxing movies of all time: “Raging Bull”.
A movie about middleweight boxer Jake LaMotta made DeNiro challenge his own body by gaining 60 pounds or around 30 kilograms to play this character. The film shows a sportsman’s life before, during, and after and the challenges inside his family and mind.
The Champ (1979)
It is one of the oldest films about boxing, which was talked about even on national TV by TCM. The film made such a great impact that it reached corners of the earth where no American movies were played before.
This movie with such an inspiring touch to people is the story of a father-son relationship. Starring Jon Voight, Ricky Schroder, and Faye Dunaway, the film tells about the adventures and misfortunes of a former boxer who spends his time drinking while being cared for by his young son. Audience will watch the fighting for sole custody of their child, showing a traumatic event about that even the Italian director said, “The Champ is perhaps one of the films that has hit traumatically my mind and my heart…”
For now let’s turn to another group of movies that redefined the art of creating boxing films. We are sure you will definitely find something to watch.
Million Dollar Baby (2004)
This movie revolves around a woman named “Maggie Fitzgerlad”, played by Hilary Swank, who talks to an old trainer, played by the legendary Clint Eastwood. Maggie asks to be trained.
Audiences will be pleased to see a solid positive change of usual female perspective in sports movies since the icon of Western movies offered a blow to the gut with his never-before-seen take on the female boxer. The story starts with a girl who just arrived in LA and soon joins a gym where she forges a relationship with the trainer.
The film hits all the right spots of a typical boxing movie, with an ending that anyone couldn’t expect, leaving a lasting effect on the moviegoers.
Cinderella Man (2005)
Cinderella Man, played by the iconic actor Russell Crowe. He showed this actor’s talent to play by performing a portrayal of a real-life Irish American boxer.
Directed by Ron Howard, “Cinderella Man” tells the story of James J. Braddock during his time in the Great Depression and how he overcomes all odds and fights on his way to victory. With such a plot and with talented co-actors, like Renne Zellweger and Craig Bierko, the movie touches the viewers’ hearts, bringing an emotional cocktail. And all of these happen just within 144 minutes.
Creed (2015)
The last name Creed we have been listening to since 1976 from the very first glance of the movie “Rocky”, where we saw Apollo Creed fighting the Italian stallion. And this movie goes after many years when the son of the former Heavyweight World Champion comes to the ring. Adonis Johnson shows his resilience and wants to be trained by his best friend’s dad, Rocky Balboa.
The character Adonis Johnson, played by Michael B. Jordan is a complex one. He is trying to live out of his dad’s shadow and create his own reputation; the movie shows a struggle not just in the ring but also inside the mind of a boxer.
Well, we have already remembered a significant number of classic boxing movies. The majority of them have a certain place in the hearts and minds of viewers and sports fans. Now, we are planning to dive into the world of some underrated movies but the ones that certainly deserve you attention.
The Fighter (2010)
The story of a real-life boxer Micky Ward reaches his peak of glory with his fights with the late Arturo Gatti. It caught the attention of the filmmaker David O’Russell, who introduced Ward’s story to millions of moviegoers.
With the iconic Mark Wahlberg as Micky Ward, played a pivotal role as the calming force of a chaotic time. By portraying Ward’s brother, great actor Cristian Bale earned an academic award.
The movie’s highlight revolves around the strength of family bonds and the devastation that occurs when something happens to a loved one.
Ali (2001)
We are sure you can recognize the words: “The Champ is here!” This movie is a documentary about Cassius Clay, who is on his way to becoming the best boxer of all time and becoming the renowned Muhammed Ali.
One of the greatest boxing films, with Will Smith at the center of the ring and director Michael Mann, shows the period during which Cassius Clay was transformed into the icon Muhammad Ali. The movie shows all significant events from pivotal fights in the ring to the assassination of one of the mentors. Also, we can see the hardships of becoming an icon in a period when racism and civil rights were fighting ideologies.
Requiem for a Heavyweight (1962)
A film by Columbia Pictures, with a memorable performance from Anthony Quinn who plays an aging boxer with a decision to make. There are two variants: a possible complete blindness or a forever victory. There is also a manager with his vision on the cash and not on the well-being of his fighter and pupil.
The script was inspired by the story of Joe Lewis, a real-life heavyweight champ who was forced to become a wrestler just to make ends meet.
A very underrated movie, which also did not do well at the box office but catapulted the three main actors into starling fame.
Boxing Documentaries That Packed a Punch
Even though movies are usually fictional and create an atmosphere of dreams and miracles, we must remember the area of documentaries, which aims to show us real life with great accuracy and make us feel the excitement or tragedy that many boxers experience in their personal and professional life.
When We Were Kings (1996)
The film focuses on the plot of the great fight between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman for the heavyweight championship in 1974. It was when his famous speech appeared: “I am experienced now… I’ve done something new this fight. I wrestled with an alligator, I tossed with a whale, I handcuffed lightning, thrown thunder in jail.”
The movie “When We Were Kings” was truly impactful. This great work won The Best Documentary Feature Oscar. The film is so loyal to the events of the 70s that even after 23 years at the time of release, it appeared to be the best time capsule of all time.
Tyson (2008)
We can’t forget about Mike Tyson, one of the meanest, toughest, and strongest boxers of all time. He was a personal avenger for Muhammad Ali and he lost.
This movie shows the whole story of a poor kid with lots of anger and no future. It shows his trainer who loved him like a father and made him the greatest boxer of the 90s and 00s. Also shows the hardships and heartbreaking moments of being famous, from the manager stealing money to losing his mentor and being jailed for some time for a crime allegedly never committed.
The Influence of Boxing Films on Pop Culture
Boxing films have left a permanent mark on popular culture, shaping our views (the public) and perception of sports. Such movies give us a look behind the screens of fame, a possibility to look at sports with the human side, and show the hardships we all go through in life.
The iconic movie “Rocky” shows big obstacles and challenges to overcome as a normal person, and films, like “Million Dollar Baby”, navigate the emotional and human elements of the sport. Boxing movies show one of the most important things in humankind: strength of the body and the human spirit.
These movies continue to inspire new filmmakers and actors and give us new aspects of life we still need to explore.
Conclusion
All these films highlight physical strength and mindset, motivating us to push ourselves above and beyond. They also give us a small glance at boxing as a sport and help us understand how it works. If we get enough knowledge, we could catapult ourselves into iGaming and boxing online, in a way that allows us to earn extra money by betting on real-life box matches.
The tight-lipped Mrs Foster (Joanna Lumley) and the precocious Maisy (Ellie-Mae Siame) have been assigned to the same cancer treatment suite. Maisy is some way through her chemotherapy, already friends with the bantering oncology attendants, Nurse Gaby (MyAnna Buring) and Nurse Lucy (Poppy Gilbert).
Mrs Foster, played wonderfully by Lumley, is decidedly guarded about her presence in the treatment suite, hesitant to call her son about her vulnerable condition.
As the two ladies begin to establish a rapport with one another over the following days, a real charming cheekiness emerges, the generational gaps between them bridged by innocent curiosity – much to the retiree’s bemusement, Mrs Foster is asked by Maisy if she’s a lesbian.
Siame is fantastic as Maisy, bringing a delicate balance of innocence and maturity; despite knowing that her condition is terminal, the young girl remains cheerful and quips to her new comrade that, “if we’re going to die soon, the least they can do is let us have nice wigs”.
And despite the subject matter, My Week With Maisy retains a certain jovial, humorous tone, very appropriately supplemented by the vibrant set and costume design, with the suite’s bright, pink walls and Maisy’s sunny, orange clothing.
Though never dampening the severity of the disease, director Mika Simmons and writer Mark Oxtoby steer away from pure miserabilism, instead highlighting the importance of hope and healing.
‘Salem’s Lot (1975), Stephen King’s second published book, is one of the great vampire novels. It captures small-town America well and populates its setting with memorable characters. King unfolds the plot with plenty of mystery, atmosphere, and subtext.
I didn’t expect writer-director Gary Dauberman’s new film adaptation to capture all of the richness of King’s novel with a runtime of less than two hours, but I had hoped it would at least deliver some of the magic of King’s work. Unfortunately it disappoints as both a King adaptation and as its own thing. While it’s not terrible, this ‘Salem’s Lot feels like a rushed and generic vampire film.
The likable Lewis Pullman plays Ben Mears, an author who returns to his childhood town of ‘Salem’s Lot in the 1970s so he can write about the decrepit Marsten House. He finds that the building now belongs to an antique shop owner and his partner, who recently arrived. As Mears gets to know the locals, people start disappearing or dying in peculiar ways.
Eventually Mears teams up with love interest Susan (Makenzie Leigh), brave kid Mark (Jordan Preston Carter), and schoolteacher Matt (Bill Camp), among others. They must fight against those who have turned into vampires as they seek to destroy the fanged mastermind Kurt Barlow (Alexander Ward).
Dauberman’s film moves choppily from scene to scene, leaving little room for genuine suspense or character development. He streamlines the plot in order to get to action and scare scenes often. Some of the famous parts of King’s book still make it in and work in the moment, such as the floating child tapping on the window, but Dauberman doesn’t let the dread of situations linger long enough before moving on.
There is one excellent scene that is an exception to the above. It involves Mark and gravedigger Mike (Spencer Treat Clark) sitting at a bar. Dauberman uses shadows, hushed dialogue, and a Donovan song to great effect. It’s a creepy and creative scene that finds a groove that much of the rest of the film is lacking.
The production values are solid, evoking the ‘70s without being too on the nose about it. I’m not sure about Dauberman’s inclusion of a drive-in theater though. It’s something that’s not in the book, which is fine except that it feels like it’s only included here as a studio note for a climactic location.
The cast is pretty good, with Leigh being the only weak link in the main group. Camp and Carter come off best and manage to rise above their diluted characterizations. Ward can be intimidating as Barlow, but I wish his vampiric look wasn’t so CGI-heavy.
‘Salem’s Lot is slick and serviceable vampire entertainment, always watchable but never very interesting. It’s an anemic adaptation of a terrific piece of King literature.
