The Boxer Details

A knock-out performance by Daniel Day-Lewis is the highlight in this admirable if rather conventional drama. He plays a former IRA man who returns to his former profession of boxing after 14 years in prison and establishes a gym, giving local delinquents the chance to pummel their way to a better life. Directed and co-written by Jim Sheridan, it feels sweatily authentic and there are strong supporting performances from Brian Cox as an IRA leader who is willing to consider peace as an option, and Emily Watson as Day-Lewis's married love interest, who also happens to be Cox's daughter.

A tough and gritty drama about controlled violence as redemption. The fight sequences have an authentic, sweaty feel about them; the rest is too schematic in its condemnation of bigotry to convince.