Diggstown (1992)

Directed by Michael Ritchie. Starring James Woods, Louis Gossett Jr., Bruce Dern, Oliver Platt, Heather Graham, Thomas Wilson Brown, Duane Davis, Marshall Bell, Randall “Tex” Cobb, Orestes Matacena, Raymond C. Turner. [R]

Breezy boxing-hustle picture with Woods and Platt as wily conmen who make a wager with a small-town tyrant (Dern) that they can produce a middle-aged, virtually-unknown fighter (Gossett) who can beat any ten boxers in the county over the course of twenty-four hours. A crowdpleaser that’s chock full of clichés and contrivances, but even with an ambling pace and a shortage of twists and turns that these kinds of movies are known for, it’s such a pleasure watching these pros work that it’s hard to complain. If you can accept paunchy, fifty-something Gossett as someone capable of holding his own in the ring at this sort of iron-horse length, you can accept a few unnecessary appearances from Graham as a comely ally; be grateful that nothing comes from the initial suggestion of a budding romance between her and Woods. On the charisma of the actors and the unobtrusive but smooth direction from once-promising 70s filmmaker Ritchie, it may fall short of a knockout, but it’s worth going seven or eight rounds with it. Released in some international markets under its original working title: Midnight Sting.

67/100