Girlfight

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Singleton</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="549" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 23 WIDTH="545"><div> Life is War</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="580" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="269"><div> Diana: Michelle Rodriguez</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="304"><div> Hector: Jaime Tirelli</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 ><NOBR><div> Veronica: Shannon Walker Williams</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="304"><div> Tiny: Ray Santiago</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="269"><div> Sandro: Paul Calderon</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="304"><div> Adrian: Santiago Douglas</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="269"><div> Marisol: Elisa Bocanegra</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="304"><div> Science Teacher: John Sayles</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="269"><div> Director: Karyn Kusama</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="304"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="19" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="304" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <B>30 Second Bottom Line</B>: A teenage girl in her senior year of high school, becomes aggressive, because of the anger related to the death of her mother. Boxing gives her the confidence to come of age sexually, as well as to learn how an adult should handle life's numerous challenges.  </div> <bR> <div> <B>Story Line:</B> A bad temper tells us right away that Diana (Michelle Rodriguez) is a troubled teenager. She gets into fights at school with little provocation, and she throws things around the house. Diana wants to do anything but be a girl, because that means she will one day become a woman. </div> <bR> <div> She and her brother Tiny (Ray Santiago), live with their father Sandro (Paul Calderon), in public housing. Sandro sends Diana on an errand to pay for Tiny's boxing lessons and she meets his trainer, Hector (Jaime Tirelli). She instinctively is interested in what's going on and starts taking boxing lessons, without her father's knowledge. </div> <bR> <div> Diana is a quick study and is soon able to mix it up well with others in her weight class, both boys and girls. Adrian (Santiago Douglas) is a boxer in the same gym, who graduated from high school a year ago and hopes to turn pro one day. He sees boxing as his ticket out of the ghetto. It's important to note this is not a film about ghetto kids and gangs, but rather poor kids who live in public housing and want to do better. </div> <bR> <div> Adrian and Diana have two things in common that generate the primary drama in the movie; 1) they are in the same weight class and 2) they start to see each other as potential lovers. The supporting characters in the film provide depth, and a boxing story that's not a <I>Rocky</I> retread. Marisol (Elisa Bocanegra) is the kind of girlfriend that Diana cherishes. Veronica (Shannon Walker Williams) is a beauty queen at school (in her own mind), who is always working an angle. Marisol becomes angry when Veronica steals her boyfriend because she <I>can</I>, not because she likes and wants him. Tiny has boxing skills, but his interests are more of  being a computer guru than a gladiator. Sandro supports his children in the wrong ways. </div> <bR> <div> In most sports films the underdog wins at the end, that's true here also. What's special about it is that the winner and loser are both heroes.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="61395630.png" border=0 width="149" height="99" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>Tell Me More About It</B>: Michelle Rodriguez leads the cast of numerous fresh faces you come to know and care about…even the ones you don't like too well. They are still people…some have more faults than others. There is no villain in the film and no one gets shot, knifed or beaten (other than in a boxing match). </div> <bR> <div> The clichés in the film tend to be "sayings" that we can all stand to hear again, "When you are not training, someone else is training, to kick you're a.." The music is good to listen to and pertinent to young adults. The words "Trying to make it real, Compared to what?" really hit home. </div> <bR> <div> Hector is a stern taskmaster trainer who reminds me of my old piano teacher. He allowed me to cut his grass to earn money and was a kind adult, until he became angry when I was not properly prepared for my lesson. Hector insists on being paid, on time, for his lessons at his discounted rate. He makes Diana get her money's worth for each lesson. During these lessons he teaches her important concepts such as smaller footwork allows you to punch from different angles. Unlike her father, he is a man who demands respect. He also gives respect when it's earned.  </div> <bR> <div> The boxing action is realistic and appropriately amateurish. They are not in Madison Square Garden, but in local gyms, with a neighborhood crowd that pays a few bucks for a little entertainment. The referee at one bout sings the national Anthem from start to finish, in a manner befitting the Super Bowl. It has real soul because it is so basic.</div> <bR> <div> Like <A HREF="id608.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Remember The Titans"><U><I><B>Remember The Titans</B></I></U></A>, I felt good when the credits rolled. It's a film that either adults or children will enjoy. <I>Girfight</I> is an excellent coming of age film for kids 12 and up. Sex is maturely handled, with minimal sexual activity. The incident that requires some adult explanation might be a confrontation between Diana and her father Sandro. Even without the stress of the people in <I>Girlfight</I>, every kid has challenged parental authority. This is the type of film that kids need to see; if younger, with parents, and if older, without is fine. The conversation that you will have with the child after the film, is   one you'll have now, or later on, wish you had. </div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="591" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="587"><div> R ( mild violence; language)</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="587"><div> George O. Singleton © 2000</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="587"><div> <A HREF="mailto:Reelmoviec@aol.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:Reelmoviec@aol.com"><U><U>George@reelmoviecritic.com</U></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> Mini Filmography </div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="579" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 ><NOBR><div> Michelle Rodriguez: Debut Film</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Jaime Tirelli: <I><B>The Preachers Wife</B></I></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 ><NOBR><div> Paul Calderon: <I><B>Out of Sight</B></I></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Santiago Douglas: <I>The Third Watch-</I>TV</div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="286"><div> Ray Santiago: Debut Film</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="286"><div> John Sayles: <I><B>Lone Star</B></I></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="286"><div> Elisa Bocanegra: Debut Film</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="286"><div> Karyn Kusama: Debut Film</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 ><NOBR><div> Shannon Walker Williams: Debut</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="286"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="19" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="286" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>