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5.9/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 5.9/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Lady and Gent remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you like old-school dramas that don't pull punches about how sports can ruin a guy, you’ll dig this. It’s not for people who need constant action or flashy camera tricks. If you’re here for a young John Wayne, you might be surprised he isn't the one winning every fight in sight.
The whole thing feels a bit like a cautionary tale written on a napkin. Buzz Kinney starts as this fresh-faced kid from college, thinking he’s got the world on a string. Then he hits Stag Bailey. That fight is the turning point, but not in the way the movies usually do it.
I couldn't help but notice how quickly the tone shifts. One minute it’s all excitement and college pride. The next, we’re looking at broken noses and guys who just look exhausted by the sheer act of standing up. It’s grim, but in a quiet, 1930s kind of way.
Honestly, it reminds me a bit of the grit you find in Frozen River, where the environment itself feels like it’s working against the characters. Sure, they are totally different genres, but the vibe of people being stuck in cycles they can't escape is there.
There is a scene near the middle that goes on for a bit too long, mostly just guys talking about money in a smoke-filled room. I almost checked my phone. Then, somebody gets up, knocks a chair over, and the tension spikes for no reason at all. It was weirdly perfect.
It isn't a masterpiece. Sometimes the dialogue feels like it was written by a committee that never actually stepped inside a boxing ring. But it has heart. It’s messy, a bit lopsided, and doesn't try to wrap everything up with a bow. That’s probably the best thing about it. 🥊