Fighting Tommy Riley
Closed CaptioningEddie O'Flaherty
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Plot Summary
Tommy Riley is a self-destructive boxer with raw talent and a fiery temper. Marty Goldberg is a trainer with inner demons too dark to bring to light. As a team, these two volatile opposites just may have what it takes to find the second chance they never had. Boasting extraordinary performances that are devastatingly poignant and vigorously uplifting, Fighting Tommy Riley is a powerful look at the world of men, both in and outside the ring.
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Rotten Tomatoes Movie Reviews
TOMATOMETER
63%- Reviews Counted: 8
- Fresh: 5
- Rotten: 3
- Average Rating: 6.0/10
Top Critics' Reviews
Fresh: In Fighting Tommy Riley, another boxing drama is asking audiences to gird themselves for more emotional gut punches.
Fresh: This small, lovingly crafted film continually surprises with its depth and resonance.
Rotten: Outrageously sentimental and retrograde.
Fresh: If it fails to land its big final punch, it's still a contender.
Customer Reviews
Reviews
"A deeply absorbing and poignant story, starring a talented filmmaker and a compelling young star, teamed with one of the best character actors in film" - Jeffrey Lyons, NBC-NY
"Winner by knockout...impressive! Bursts forth with the shock of an Arthur Miller play" - Variety
"Every once in a while, an independent film comes along, that just could be the springboard for a very promising career. In this case, the movie is called "Fighting Tommy Riley" and the actor, who lights up the screen, is newcomer JP Davis." - Neil Rosen, NY-1
"Actor J.P. Davis wrote himself into the title role of this up-from-under tale of a scrappy young boxer’s encounter with a troubled, sickly ex-trainer. But this is no Rocky — Davis and director Eddie O’Flaherty focus on the twisted emotional interiors of the two men as they work to rebuild Riley’s career, avoiding the big-payoff ending in favor of a more nuanced, bittersweet breakthrough. Anchored by Eddie Jones’ passionate turn as the trainer, the film also benefits from convincing boxing details — in its seedy gyms and shabby apartments, Riley comes closest in tone to John Huston’s Fat City." LA Weekly
"This small, lovingly crafted film continually surprises with its depth and resonance." - Kevin Thomas, LA Times
Reviews
“A deeply absorbing and poignant story, starring a talented filmmaker and a compelling young star, teamed with one of the best character actors in film.” - Jeffrey Lyons, NBC
“Winner by a knockout...bursts forth with the shock of an Arthur Miller play” – Variety
“First-class performances by veteran Eddie Jones and newcomer J.P. Davis” – Hollywood Reporter
“Every once in a while, an independent film comes along, that just could be the springboard for a very promising career. In this case, the movie is called "Fighting Tommy Riley" and the actor, who lights up the screen, is newcomer JP Davis.” Neil Rosen, NY-1
“Different from any boxing movie you’ve ever seen” – Roger Ebert
“Actor J.P. Davis wrote himself into the title role of this up-from-under tale of a scrappy young boxer’s encounter with a troubled, sickly ex-trainer. But this is no Rocky — Davis and director Eddie O’Flaherty focus on the twisted emotional interiors of the two men as they work to rebuild Riley’s career, avoiding the big-payoff ending in favor of a more nuanced, bittersweet breakthrough. Anchored by Eddie Jones’ passionate turn as the trainer, the film also benefits from convincing boxing details — in its seedy gyms and shabby apartments, Riley comes closest in tone to John Huston’s Fat City.”- LA Weekly
“This small, lovingly crafted film continually surprises with its depth and resonance” – LA Weekly
"Like Million Dollar Baby, Riley's climax is a punch to the solar plexus...J.P. Davis' slick script and underplayed performance as Tommy Riley will win you over...In a year where an old fashioned boxing flick may be on its way to a best picture Oscar, this low budget character study, seething with erotic subtext, contains an emotional punch."- San Francisco Chronicle
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