To Be King

I really liked this film a lot. I liked the characters, and the way they were balanced and believable human beings. No black hats and white hats here - well, maybe the one. But the lead is so down to earth and lacking righteousness - though his path be righteous - that he is endearing rather than superior. Even the villain has his moment of genuine and touching humanity. There is no axe to grind or agenda here; just a simple story, a sort of cross between Cindarella Man and Rocky, very well acted and directed. Kudos to Steve Rahaman, he pulls off an ambitious movie on a shoestring and keeps you with him all the way. If I had one reservation it would be that there are a few too many hugs in the film - not because I don't buy it, I do - but it leaves the audience out of the circle of warmth a bit, rather than pulling us in as it might better do if it were not quite so easy for the characters to embrace. A very effective scene for example, when King thanks his Ex and an awkward embrace happens between them - not literally, but in a manner soft and sad and really very moving. There are a lot of lovely moments here, all in all. Bravo all 'round!

I really enjoyed this movie. I thought it was going to be more for men since it was relating to boxing, however, it was so much more than that.

It was uplifting, inspirational, exciting and touched on the fact that when your back is against the wall and you have no where to run to that change is possible. Nigel Harvey was terrific as well as Frank Merlino and Rosie Moss.

I have the pleasure of knowing Steve Rahaman. He has worked extremely hard to get to this point in his career and it reflects in his work. He truly loves directing and acting he will continue to succeed. I wish you continued success and know you will go far.

Steve Rahaman is back with yet another riveting take on the human condition in his latest film To Be King. Rahaman delivers a script well executed by his actors, which portrays the lengths a father will take to lead an exemplary life for his child, defying all odds and breaking the mold of a man trapped in the "street" life.

This story is much more involving than his previous films as it brings together the values of family loyalty, redemption and determination. Nigel Harvey delivers a heartfelt performance as up and coming boxer Tyrone King. His character faces obstacles both in and out of the ring and is pushed to the limits as he struggles to escape the shadows of his father's legacy in order to create his own path.

Miriam Morales gives a breakthrough performance in her first full length film capturing the audience as Sharon Stills, the mother of King's daughter. Not only is she believable but her performance is also flawless, authentic and is worthy of praise.

Kamel Goffin, who plays Wesley King, Tyrone's younger brother, gives a genuine portrait of a young man struggling to break free of the life of crime he is subjected to. Viewers keep a look out, Goffin's capacity as an actor is sure to transform him from supporting to leading actor.

Frank Merlino and Tommy Clohessy, who have worked both together and with Rahaman in the past, unite once again to play the roles of King's trainer and promoter. This film pushes Merlino's abilities as an actor and gives him a chance to stand in the spotlight. His role as Uncle Frank provides a platform for Merlino to showcase his talents and in doing so, Merlino shines.

Clohessy, who is a natural, steals each of his scenes as the corrupt promoter Jimmy O'Reilly and as expected performed brilliantly.

Clarissa Martinez, the social service worker, played by Rosie Moss and Nya Harvey, who is Harvey's real life daughter and plays the role of King's daughter in the movie, adds to the dimension of the film and King's character as the audience sees a softer, loving side of the boxer. Both Moss and the young Harvey performed with grace and sincerity.

To Be King is more than just a boxing film. It is a film about loyalty, love and liberation. Rahaman manages to bring the story to life with the use of powerful, gripping dialog and a plot that is conducive to his works. His growth as a director is evident with each new film and is an indicator of what is to be expected of him as a director in this industry. The story flows well throughout the film and leaves audiences with a sense of triumph and hope. This is definitely one of, if not Rahaman's best works thus far.

Written By Safia Sattaur Writer/ Journalist

"To Be King" is a highly entertaining drama that shows growth and maturity in Steve Rahaman as a budding indie filmmaker. After seeing what he can accomplish, if he keeps making films like this, I feel his career can go nowhere but up. I would say that it's an urban "Rocky" (as there are similarities in theme), but it's a completely different film. Hell, there's really not much boxing in it at all; it's all about the story, the people, and what happens when life gets tough. Steve showed that he can get the best out of actors, shots, and dialog when he puts his mind to it. About half the cast from "Blood Line" is back and, instead of it feeling like they were cast for roles, it feels as if the roles were created with them in mind… and it works so well. The main cast (Harvey, Merlino, Moss, LoDeon, Morales, Clohessy, and Goffin) handle their roles with a professional quality rarely seen in indie projects such as this. The story flows organically, with realistic dialog and situations, and the theme is strong enough to make its point without becoming too weighted. I have to say that I was very much entertained by "To Be King". I'm not saying it's a perfect movie; there are few films outside of Kubrick's library that are perfect to this reviewer. The major flaw I had with it is the score. While an excellent score on its own (much better than any score previously used by Rahaman), it still doesn't feel right at certain moments. I wouldn't say that it sours the movie at all, but that at points it becomes overwhelming when subtlety would suffice. My other nitpicks are purely minor faults that I just "would've done differently" and wouldn't be noticeable unless pointed out (an edit here, a shot there… purely inconsequential stuff). For an indie drama, "To Be King" has more potential to get Rahaman noticed than anything he's done prior. I would actually recommend this if it was playing at a local indie house as an example of what can be done when a filmmaker puts heart and soul into a project. Well done, Mr. Rahaman… now don't let it go to your head. From: http://moviereviewsunday.typepad.com

Far more then just a good boxing story. The personal relationships with family, friends and others played out with emotion and determination was well directed. The struggle of Tyrone King in his professional and personal life is well played by Nigel Harvey. The cast brought the movie to life with their in-depth performances. A boxing movie with a PG-13 rating that brought you into the boxing world was very well produced . Though this film is not a Hollywood product, but it is right up there with them. Another fine film by Steve Rahaman. I can not wait to see what he has up his sleeve for his next film.Just a fantastic family movie! I highly recommend this movie!