Resurrecting the Champ is a 2007 American sports drama film directed by Rod Lurie and written by Michael Bortman and Allison Burnett. The film is based on a Los Angeles Times Magazine article of the same name by J. R. Moehringer, published in 1997.
Plot Summary
The film centers on Erik Kernan Jr. (Josh Hartnett), a young sports reporter for The Denver Times who is struggling professionally and personally. He rescues a homeless man (Samuel L. Jackson) from an assault and learns that the man, who calls himself "Champ," claims to be former professional heavyweight boxing contender Bob Satterfield. Kernan writes a profile story about Champ that brings him acclaim, but he later discovers that Champ is actually a lesser-known boxer named Tommy Kincaid who had been impersonating Satterfield. The revelation leads to professional consequences and a lawsuit from Satterfield's son. The story explores themes of journalistic ethics, father-son relationships, and redemption.
Cast
- Samuel L. Jackson as "Champ" / "Bob Satterfield" / Tommy Kincaid
- Josh Hartnett as Erik Kernan Jr.
- Kathryn Morris as Joyce Kernan
- Alan Alda as Ralph Metz
- Dakota Goyo as Teddy Kernan
- David Paymer as Whitley
- Teri Hatcher as Andrea Flak
- Rachel Nichols as Polly
- Nick Sandow as Rocky Marciano
- Harry J. Lennix as Bob Satterfield Jr.
Production
The film was a co-production between Phoenix Pictures, Alberta Film Entertainment, Battleplan Productions, and the Yari Film Group. For logistical and monetary reasons, director Lurie chose to film primarily in Calgary, Alberta, with critical exterior shots filmed in Denver, Colorado. The film score was composed by Larry Groupé and Blake Hazard.
Release and Reception
The film premiered in theaters in the United States on August 24, 2007. It grossed approximately $3.2 million worldwide against a budget of $13 million.
Critical reception was mixed to positive. On Rotten Tomatoes, 61% of 116 sampled critics gave the film a positive review, with an average score of 6.1 out of 10. On Metacritic, the film received a score of 55 out of 100 based on 28 reviews. Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film a positive review, praising Samuel L. Jackson's performance. The film was nominated for an ESPY Award for Best Sports Movie in 2008 and a Young Artist Award for actor Dakota Goyo.
Source Material
The film is based on J. R. Moehringer's 1997 Los Angeles Times Magazine article "Resurrecting the Champ," which told the true story of former boxer Bob Satterfield, who was discovered living on the streets. Moehringer's article was a finalist for a Pulitzer Prize.
