Terrence Howard plays a sort of modern day "Midnight Cowboy" Ratso in Fighting, and his brilliant acting keeps this otherwise predictable fable alive. What's neat here is the juxtaposition between the passive characters who talk in near baby talk in quiet tones, almost in halted whispers, as they plot the violent events that are to take place. The fight scenes aren't as graphic as those in Fight Club, and don't quite reach the intensity of Charles Bronson in Hard Times, but the musical score and, as I said, Terrence Howard's performance raise this otherwise implausible story above the average schlock. The one thing the cast of Fighting can't be accused of is overacting. The subtleties are pleasantly surprising, especially for a movie about illegal street fighting.
Review of Fighting
