Crying Fist’s neat twist on the underdog boxing movie is to present us with a choice of two mangy mutts for whom to cheer — punching from opposite ends of the same spectrum of violence are Gang (Choi Min-sik) and Yoo (Ryoo Seung-bum), whose final confrontation is inevitable, though not entirely predictable.
The film’s approach to the brutality is unflinching and a heavy sense of social criticism is evident, but both are diluted by sentimentality. Choi Min-sik’s shattering performance in OldBoy was far from a one-hit wonder if this is any measure of his mettle; but even his outstanding turn can’t quite sustain the two-hour running time, as clichés slowly replace an interesting set-up. Fight lovers will lap up the blistering ring-side action, but it never quite goes the extra distance.