"Hands of Stone" is a pretty average biopic/boxing movie. It tells the story of Duran's life, skimping on quite a few details, and throws in de Niro as legendary trainer Ray Arcel to sweeten the deal, and a miscast Usher (the R&B star) as Sugar Ray Leonard.
It is, at least, a good late career performance from de Niro, who seemed to have quit trying in his performances some twenty years ago, and just started sleepwalking through his roles. Here, he downplays it, but that feels like a conscious decision, and one that pays off in an impressive, understated performance.
I think the problem is that the movie tries to show too much, and ends up feeling light on the ground. A better decision may have been to focus on Duran's famous rivalry with Leonard. Instead we get a predictable rags to riches boxing story, and the attempt to blame the infamous "No Mas" fight on Duran's history with the US seems unconvincing. I still don't know what really happened in that fight. Perhaps the filmmakers know, or perhaps not.
It is, at least, a good late career performance from de Niro, who seemed to have quit trying in his performances some twenty years ago, and just started sleepwalking through his roles. Here, he downplays it, but that feels like a conscious decision, and one that pays off in an impressive, understated performance.
I think the problem is that the movie tries to show too much, and ends up feeling light on the ground. A better decision may have been to focus on Duran's famous rivalry with Leonard. Instead we get a predictable rags to riches boxing story, and the attempt to blame the infamous "No Mas" fight on Duran's history with the US seems unconvincing. I still don't know what really happened in that fight. Perhaps the filmmakers know, or perhaps not.