Body and Soul

No script, no plot, and bad narration. That's what this film is about. Seeing Jennifer Beals have to resort to acting in movies like this is enough to make a grown man cry. I love boxing films but this is one of the worst. Avoid it at all costs and rent Flashdance so you can remember what Jennifer used to be.

My only question is: Why did they make this movie? Did they have a script or did they make it up as they went along? Boom Boom doesn't look like a Charley Davis. John Garfield probably turned over in his grave if he saw this.

After the suicide of his father, Charlie 'Kid' Davis (Ray `Boom Boom' Mancini) accepts the invitation and advice of his friend Tiny (Michael Chiklis) and travels to Las Vegas with him trying to become a boxer. On the road, they meet Gina (Jennifer Beals) hitchhiking, they give a lift to her and she becomes Charlie's girlfriend. Johnny Ticotin (Rod Steiger) is convinced by Tiny to be Charlie's couch, and the powerful agent Alex Dumas (Joe Mantegna), after watching him fighting, becomes his manager, promoting Charlie's career. This movie is so boring that it indeed does not deserve to spend much time writing about it. I do not like boxing, but sometimes I watch some worthwhile movie about this theme. But this one is horrible! Predictable, full of clichés, having an awful lead actor, a pure waste of time. My vote is three.

Title (Brazil): `Corpo e Alma' (`Body and Soul')

Ray Boom Boom Mancini, (Charlie Davis) played the role as a fighter who started out in a small town and won many knockout's and then his buddy decided he should go to Las Vegas and the big time money and fame. As these two guys are driving to Las Vegas, they pick up a hitchhiker by the name of Gina, (Jennifer Beals) and Charlie seems to fall in love with Gina at first setting his eyes on her. They arrive in Las Vegas and meet up with Johnny Ticotin, (Rod Steiger) who is a veteran boxing trainer and he sees a potential for a good boxer in Charlie and his desire to put his body and soul into his training. Eventually Charlie is ready for his first big match which has been arranged by Alex Dumas, (Joe Mantegna) who is a big time boxing promoter in Vegas. There are romance scenes between Gina and also a sexy gal who wears a red dress almost in every scene and is wearing him down in more ways than one. The fight scenes are not that great and I must say that Rod Steiger made an outstanding performance as a supporting actor.

The original Body and Soul (1947) is a masterpiece. John Garfield, Ann revere, Lilli Plmer, William Conrad, Canada Lee...and filmed by one of the greatest cinematographers to ever grace the screen..James Wong Howe. This remake is abominable. In spite of the presence of Rod Steiger, Joe Mantegna and Jennifer Beals there is nothing of value here and it is a shame this product bears the same title as the brilliant original. Only the main character's name, Charlie Davis, is the same in both films. I don't think there are any redeeming qualities in this remake. I am amazed that Rod Steiger participated. This may be the only bad film he ever made. Maybe he needed the paycheck.