Description:
The con is on and so are the laughs in this two-fisted comedy packed with surprises and "rock 'em sock 'em action" (David Sheehan, KNBC). James Woods and Academy AwardÂ(r) winner* Louis Gossett, Jr. are a potent one-two punch as a pair of mismatched partners in for the scam of their lives in a "movie that's hard to resist" (Gene Siskel, Chicago Tribune). For con artist Gabriel Caine (Woods), Diggstown is the promised land, legendary for its high-stakes boxing matches that attract high rollers from miles around. Gabe, recognizing a golden opportunity, bets the town's powerful boss (Bruce Dern) that his fight
The con is on and so are the laughs in this two-fisted comedy packed with surprises and "rock 'em sock 'em action" (David Sheehan, KNBC). James Woods and Academy AwardÂ(r) winner* Louis Gossett, Jr. are a potent one-two punch as a pair of mismatched partners in for the scam of their lives in a "movie that's hard to resist" (Gene Siskel, Chicago Tribune). For con artist Gabriel Caine (Woods), Diggstown is the promised land, legendary for its high-stakes boxing matches that attract high rollers from miles around. Gabe, recognizing a golden opportunity, bets the town's powerful boss (Bruce Dern) that his fighter will defeat ten opponents in 24 hours. It's far from a sure thing, though, since Gabe's fighter is "Honey" Roy Palmer (Gossett, Jr.), a cranky, over-the-hill 48-year-old who has just come out of retirement. But Roy comes out swinging, pulverizing one contender after another, leading to a final exciting bout that may decide the ownership of the town itself! *1982: Supporting Actor, An Officer and a Gentleman
For some reason, James Woods seldom does straight comedies, but this 1992 film comes close. Playing Gabriel Caine, a con man fresh out of jail, Woods teams up with aging prizefighter "Honey" Roy Palmer (Louis Gossett Jr.) to run a scam on the boss of Diggstown, John Gillon (Bruce Dern). The bet: that "Honey" Roy can defeat any 10 boxers that Gillon throws at him in 24 hours. A combination of scams and double-crosses ensues, in which Woods, at his motor-mouth best, spars wonderfully (verbally, of course) with both Dern and Gossett. Working with director Michael Ritchie, who thrives in a milieu that involves competition, Woods has fun in an underrated comedy-thriller. It's more The Sting than Raging Bull, and thankfully so. --Marshall Fine
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Manufacturer: MGM (Video & DVD)
Release date: 18 January 2000
Number of discs: 1
EAN: 9780792843320 UPC: 027616799029
Tags: Yokels (1), Poolshark (1), Prize Fighting (1), Theatrical Trailer (1), Keep Case (1), Aud:ENG (1), Dolby Digital 5.1 (1), Aud:FRA (1), Sub:FRA (1), Sub:ENG (1), Bareknuckle Brawling (1), Drama (1), Con Artist (1), Jailbreak (1), DVD (1), Gambling (1), Confidence Game (1), Prison (1), Murder (1), Gangsters (1)
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