Sports-related films, especially boxing films are notoriously difficult to get right. We always seem to get the over the top fight scenes, little or no character development and the same old clichéd storylines. The ones that seem to work better are the films where it’s kept relatively real, and the film is based around the story and the characters rather than relying on the fights to pad the film out. Jawbone starring Ray Winstone is a recent film more than worth checking out, but a much better example of a boxing film that works is Journeyman.
Written and directed by Paddy Considine, the film focusses on the two main characters, Matty Burton, played by the excellent Considine, the Welsh WBO middleweight champion and his wife Emma, played by the new Dr Who, Jodie Whittaker. Burton suffers a brain injury as a result of a fight and the film covers his road to recovery and the strain it puts on his relationship with his wife.
The fight scenes are kept to an absolute minimum and the film is all the better for it. Some of the scenes make for uncomfortable viewing, but the scenes are skilfully handled and are certainly not done for dramatic effect, they are there for a reason.
Considine, a fan of the noble art has done plenty of research on brain trauma’s in preparation for the film, and that clearly shows. As previously said, Considine is outstanding in the lead role as is Whittaker. The film serves as a marker for how boxing films should be made, big is not always better, a film lives or dies by its story, not by how good or far-fetched the fight scenes are.
Journeyman is more than worth seeing, and the film looks at the other side of the sport that others dare not go. There is that human side of the fighters that we rarely get to see, Journeyman lets you see it, and so should you.
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