Python Hyena Play it to the Bone (1999): Dir: Ron Shelton / Cast: Woody Harrelson, Antonio Banderas, Lolita Davidovich, Lucy Liu, Tom Sizemore: Boxing film about going to the limit of physical endurance and anticipating victory but reduced to road movie formula with a predictable outcome. Woody Harrelson and Antonio Banderas venture to Las Vegas to compete in a boxing match against each other. They agree only if they are guaranteed a heavyweight championship fight within six months. Ron Shelton films the boxing scenes with exhilaration and given hilarious chemistry from Harrelson and Banderas. Shelton is known as a director of sports related films such as Tin Cup and White Men Can't Jump. Harrelson reflects upon a past bout where he nearly one the fight but the referee went the other way on the decision. Banderas remembers a ten count where he was unable regain to his feet. Both leads play off each other effectively and take the screenplay beyond the simplicity. Lolita Davidovich on the other hand, is unfocused in her motivations. She loves both males yet comes across as a pathetic romantic tease. Lucy Liu serves no purpose other than to show up and engage in sex. Tom Sizemore plays the standard raw fight promoter whose role require him to yell in everyone's face. The message regards regaining your purpose and trying to relive past glories. Score: 6 / 10

taijiquan12 Play it to the Bone features a great core concept, the idea of two friends pitted against each other in a match that looms over every event of the movie. That idea, and what could happen leading up to the fight is the great potential this movie just doesn't quite tap. The 3 lead actors were well-cast and have some good interactions with some fun one-liners and fairly believable acting about their characters in regards to how real they were. Their chemistry was good but they weren't given enough to do. I understand they were trying for the minimalist route by making it a simple road film, but the driving scenes get to be a bit much and I feel as if the movie could've used more events happening in the trip leading up to the fight, making it a bit more of an adventure than a semi-serious character study. It does that decently, but not well enough to keep the tone from becoming a little dull eventually. I again have to stress that having more wacky and adventurous events, maybe not too over the top, would've helped the movie, and a greater sense that they might barely make it to the fight, thus increasing the suspense and the audience's desire to see them make it. In this case, extending the road trip over a series of days or a week would've allowed for many events to packed into the same amount of time the hours long car ride takes in the film. There is a cameo from Lucy Liu, who essentially only does one thing to really advance the characters/movie, and then doesn't really serve a purpose, aside from being a foil to Lolita Davidovich's character and a gratuitous sex scene. They totally missed the opportunity to add another dynamic to the pseudo love triangle that had gotten a little old at that point in the movie. Speaking of cameos, there's a good number of surprises from various celebrities and boxing personalities, which is fun and adds authenticity to the boxing. Speaking of the boxing, it's definitely a refresher after the road portion, and one thing that Play it to the Bone does well is creates a sense of nervousness before the big fight. I liked the sense of unease they established before the fight began, it really spoke to both character's feelings about the fight and having to do this. The fight itself is not bad, considering that for most of the movie, you might not buy Harrelson and Banderas as boxers, even middleweights. However their prep-work does show, and the boxing is much more real and technical than in the Rocky films, and many other boxing movies. The problem with the match however, is the camera-work, pacing, and choreography. Without spoilers, the tension built to the fight is spoiled on very, very repetitive, unimaginative choreography.The ending is arguably the weakest part about Play it to the Bone. Everything is left unresolved, with the worst of the end of the movie events going to Davidovich's character. Events I thought would lead to a large, brawl filled climax instead end on a whimper that, although somewhat realistic, is pretty depressing. The actual ending is very disappointing, and explained by the observation that there is no real arc or change for any of the lead characters, or any character really, which is bad for what is largely a character driven piece. None of them change from the results in the movie, or have a revelation, or improve their relationship, they simply play out (to the bone) their functions in the plot, without any true substance. Not making the fight a way for the 2 boxer-friends to resolve something was a huge missed opportunity. Having more conflict between them build up and then get resolved by the end battle would've been great. On a side note, the movie hints at, but doesn't skewer strongly enough, the corruption behind boxing promotion, which would've been more bold if fully carried out, and provide for more entertaining material. What we're left with is occasionally entertaining, but pretty ill-conceived. Play it to the Bone is watchable and fun, but it's an exhibition fight, not to be archived in the classics. 6 out of 10, slightly above average.

boondocksaint20 All in all, this is an okay film. The plot is very simple, and the characters are fairly interesting. I understand that this movie is supposed to be about second chances, but I couldn't help but think after the movie's very predictable ending, what the hell was the point of the movie? What was the epiphany reached, and what was the point of characters like Lucy Liu being in the story? 90% of the film is spent during the car ride to Vegas, which is good and bad, it gives a personal touch to a movie, yet does get kind of old after a while. I like Woody Harelson's character b\c I can relate to him in a lot of respects. One thing I found unrealistic, no chick would ever ditch Antonio 'de sexy' Banderas, I almost laughed when she 'broke up' with him. Antonio also looked a little weak for a boxer, but the fight scene in the end was not effected by it. The end is actually the best part of the movie, yet it is very predictable. Overall, not a bad friday night movie if you have some time to kill and a few beers to pounce. 6/10

CharltonBoy There is something about Play It To the Bone that makes you overlook the glaring mistakes and actually makes you like the film. There isn't a memorable story ,the script is nothing special and the acting would never win an acadamy award but the fact that Woody Harleson and Antonio Banderas work well together and have a certain chemistry on screen , makes the film OK. Now for the negative side.... There are many mistakes made such as,The announcer read out the fighter history and he said one fighter had drawn p bouts and the other 6! That would never be the case. The most a fighter would ever draw would be 2. We also see Rod Stewart with Lucy Lui on his arm at the fight,when has Rod ever been out with a woman who is not a blond?! The fight scenes are good but they are too long and as for Vince seeing the girls topless walking around the ring, that's just not funny. We also see lots of celebrities looking out of place in the film, i can only think that these scenes were shot at a real match in Vegas but they dont add to movie they obviously look like they have been asked at the last minute to be shot for this film and it does not work.I know it sounds like i hate the film but i dont. Give it a chance. 6 out of 10.