Undisputed

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</tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="592" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="588"><div> <B>Undisputed     </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Wingdings 2" ><B>êêê</B></FONT><B> Stars.   Rated R.</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="588"><div> Reviewed by Shelley Cameron</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="588"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="19" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="588" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 23 WIDTH="588"><div> Golden boys of Sweetwater Prison</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="593" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 ><NOBR><div> Wesley Snipes:  Monroe Hutchen </div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> Ving Rhames: 'Iceman' Chambers </div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 ><NOBR><div> Peter Falk: Emmanuel Ripstein </div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="293"><div> Jon Seda: Chuey</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="293"><div> Director: Walter Hill</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="293"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="19" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="293" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> The illusion that life is fair and sometimes the bad guy gets his comeuppance is one that many of us harbor at times.  <I>Undisputed</I> gives us an opportunity to indulge the fantasy a bit.  Director-writer Walter Hill, whose writing credits include <I>The Getaway</I> and <I>48 Hours,</I> does what he does best: craft an entertaining screenplay and populate it with effective and appealing actors.  </div> <bR> <div> `Iceman' Chambers (Ving Rhames) is the undefeated world heavyweight boxing champion and has just been convicted of rape in a high profile trial, extremely similar to that of a notorious real life boxer.  Former prizefighter Monroe Hutchen (Wesley Snipes) is a lifer at Sweetwater Prison, with no possibility of parole, for a brutal murder committed ten years earlier.  That lapse in restraint is self-described by Monroe as his one loss of control.  He is boxing champion of the prison world, patiently builds elaborate structures out of toothpicks, and lives in his head.  This is no `prison-underdog-has-been takes on the champ' scenario.  Both men are in fightin' shape.  </div> <bR> <div> Iceman has spent a lifetime getting what he wants through fear and intimidation.  He is one tough powerhouse and he knows it.  After a few unsatisfactory skirmishes with prison authority, and a meeting with his lawyers, he is eager to get out.  The victim in the rape case has just filed a $75 million civil suit against him.  His lawyers point out that they get paid win or lose, just as Iceman does for a bout.  In short, he needs to get back in the ring.  One way out of prison might be to apologize for the rape and shorten his sentence.  Another way is to fight Monroe.  </div> <bR> <div> Also residing at Sweetwater is Mendy Ripstein (Peter Falk).  A Mafia kingpin spending his golden years in prison, he's been around a long time and has powerful friends inside and out and happens to be a big fight fan.  Aided by young inmate Chuey (Jon Seda), he seriously wants to arrange a match: a pure, no referee, fair fight.</div> <bR> <div> The tearful victim in the rape case keeps appearing in TV interviews; prickling us with the probability that Iceman is indeed a guy who ought to get what is coming to him.  This device isn't particularly effective because the film never takes a meaningful shot at the core issue of rape and truth.  </div> <bR> <div> The setup has its share of cliché silliness but the tension effectively builds from the moment Iceman walks into Sweetwater until fight night.  Color fades to black and white and vise versa a few too many times to have much effect, but for pure entertainment value, <I>Undisputed</I> is thoroughly watchable.  If you're looking for a realistic blow by brutal blow fight film, this isn't it.  That said, it's worth the price of admission for fine performances from all and for Peter Falk's hilarious irked reaction when the fight may be called off.  </div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="592" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 20 WIDTH="588"><div> Shelley Cameron <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Symbol" >Ó</FONT> 2002</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 19 WIDTH="588"><div> <A HREF="mailto:shlcameron@aol.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:shlcameron@aol.com"><U><U>Shelley@reelmoviecritic.com</U></U></A></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>