Undisputed ** (2002, Ving Rhames, Wesley Snipes, Peter Falk) – Classic Movie Review 3658

Ving Rhames stars as a top ranked heavyweight boxing champion called George ‘Ice Man’ Chambers who is jailed for rape – though he maintains that he is not guilty. Wesley Snipes also stars as Monroe Hutchen, the prison champ who challenges him in the lock-up in a contest set up by an old gangster, Mendy Ripstein (Peter Falk).

Written by Walter Hill and David Giler, this 2002 prison boxing drama tells a mediocre yarn that, with its allusions to the real-life Mike Tyson story, comes across as exploitative.

Nevertheless, the cast is good and punchy, and co-writer/ director Hill keeps it all fighting fit. It also stars Michael Rooker, Jon Seda, Wes Studi and Fisher Stevens.

Also in the cast are Dayton Calli, Amy Aquino, Johnny Williams, Joe D’Angerio, Nils Allen Stewart, Denis Arndt, Jim Lampley and Ed Lover.

Undisputed performed weakly at the box office and got poor reviews but found success on home video, and later with direct-to-video sequels with no original cast members, Undisputed II: Last Man Standing (2006) and Undisputed III: Redemption (2010).

Classic Movie Review 3658

Check out more reviews on derekwinnert.com