Somebody Up There Likes Me
A young rebel falls for the sister of a local kickboxing champion. In order to stay out of jail, he is advised by his parole officer to begin training in the art of kickboxing. His romance with the girl blossoms but comes to a crashing halt when he is forced to face her brother in the ring. When the brother is accidentally killed, the romance ends and the young kickboxer participates in illegal street fights. When the kickboxer has a shot at the Golden Belt against the Japanese champ, he soon learns that this may be the final fight of his life. Written by Ninja01
Insights
Plot Summary
This gritty crime drama follows the life of Rocky Graziano, a troubled young man from the Lower East Side of New York City. His life is a cycle of petty crime, violence, and brushes with the law, leading him through reform schools and prison. Despite his difficult upbringing, Rocky possesses a raw talent for boxing, which eventually becomes his path to redemption and a chance at a different life.
Critical Reception
The film received a mixed to positive reception from critics, who often praised Kevin Spacey's directorial debut and his performance, as well as the raw energy of the narrative. However, some critics found the pacing uneven and the story's portrayal of violence to be gratuitous.
What Reviewers Say
- Kevin Spacey delivers a strong performance and shows promise as a director.
- The film's portrayal of urban struggle and boxing is compelling, though at times overly violent.
- Pacing issues and a somewhat predictable narrative trajectory were noted by several reviewers.
Google audience: Audiences generally appreciated the film's gritty authenticity and the performances, particularly Spacey's. Some viewers felt the story was engaging and inspiring, while others found it to be too bleak or violent.
Fun Fact
Kevin Spacey also directed and starred in the film, marking his feature directorial debut.
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