Great Film overall

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

Remember, before you judge this film harshly, it was a biopic, and that meant there were limits as to where the story could go. Unlike for example Rocky, where the only limits to what he could do or whom he could fight were self-imposed by Stallone himself. Late his career, Newman became known for his "H" series (Hud, Harper, Hombre) and tended to play every part the same way. But in this biopic, we see a very unique character emerge -- a guy with a natural knockout punch that will do whatever he has to do to avoid authority figures -- and right off the top of the film, the audience relates to the character and enjoys the exposition. Especially endearing are the courting scenes with Pier Angeli. Newman is so subtle in these that you almost feel like he would rather be in the ring with a brawler than trying to tell his girl how he feels. Not perfect but very few fight movies are. Well worth watching.

Robert Wise directed this biographical account of Rocky Graziano, from his troubled youth as petty thief and hoodlum that led to his imprisonment, to his later release, where his big plans were intercepted by his prompt drafting into the army, where he proves just as undisciplined, and goes AWOL. He later uses his fighting skills in the boxing ring, where he finally finds the long sought-after success he has wanted, even finding love with a woman named Norma(Pier Angeli) Until one day when Rocky's past comes back to threaten him, and jeopardize his career...Paul Newman is fine as Rocky, with solid direction and interesting story of a not always likable lead character.

I've never been a fan of Paul Newman, although I know he's a good actor...just not my cup of tea. So, it was with little enthusiasm that I finally sat down to watch this film. Wow! What a great movie! So starkly real and compelling. And, although Newman gives a very fine performance, I'd have to say I give the credit, overall, to Robert Wise, the director. And oddly enough, when watching it, I saw obvious parallels in the opening scenes with "West Side Story', only to realize later that Wise directed that film, also.In particular, the early scenes of the film, where we learn what a juvenile delinquent Rocky was, are very powerful...although in this portion of the film, Newman is clearly too old for the part. However, I'm old enough to remember Rocky Graziano (although later when he had become a television star of sorts), and it was difficult to imagine Newman even portraying Graziano...but he did it extremely well. I walked away from this film more impressed with Newman than I had ever been in the past.Several other actors deserve mention here, also. Eileen Heckart as Graziano's "ma" turns in a stunning performance as a beaten down old woman living in the tenements. Sal Mineo as Graziano's young pal is always worth a mention. And, Everett Sloan, as the boxing manager is very good here.ANother thing worth mentioning here is that I am a bit of a boxing fan myself, and I watch most matches that are broadcast on HBO. The fight scenes here are the most realistic I have ever seen in a movie, and although we know they were throwing their punches, it's my guess that the actors were pretty sore after filming.And, last but not least, you have a superb Perry Como vocal -- one of his most powerful and dramatic performances -- in the opening and closing title song. What more could one want for that era?

One more of those fighters who have to fight to survive, or at times just to avoid dying by self negligence, at least. He had everything against him. A poor Italian in New York in the bad years of the post depression decade. His mother forced his father to stop fighting. He lived in gangs even before he could walk. He got in jail more than he should have. He was drafted into the army on the most voluntary obligation possible. He got discharged dishonorably and was sent to one more prison term and there he was noticed as a fighter and was trained into boxing by some military chap who was seeing millions behind him. He even fell in love when he shouldn't have and he missed a fight. In one word he was a loser. And yet he will manage to get to the top and the championship. In those 1950s they did not hesitate on the clichés and the simple scenarios and it worked. It is true they were launching a brand new young actor and that one knew how to make things worth seeing and watching. The film is quite good, in black and white, for his time and worth seeing still today though of course slightly too slow and sentimental, but well we cannot always have modern special effect saturated films all the time. So enjoy the showing.Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, University Paris 1 Pantheon Sorbonne, University Paris 8 Saint Denis, University Paris 12 Créteil, CEGID