Resurrecting the Champ

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Resurrecting the Champ ★★2007 (PG-13)

Erik Kernan (Hartnett) is a sports reporter looking for a big story. He thinks he's found it in Bob “Champ” Sat-terfield (Jackson), a former contender now homeless in Denver. Moving from back page to the top of the heap, Erik pursues his big chance to make a name for himself without much concern for Champ. After his feature story is published he realizes that everything might not be what it seems, and of course there's a valuable lesson to be learned. Hartnett tries but ultimately can't give his flawed character depth, and is forced to carry far more weight than he's capable of. Any energy Jackson gives to the movie disappears the second he's not on the screen. Loosely based on a true story about writer J.R. Moehringer and real-life boxer Satterfield. 111m/C DVD . US Samuel L. Jackson, Josh Hartnett, Teri Hatcher, Kathryn Morris, Alan Alda, David Paymer, Rachel Nichols, Dakota Goyo, Harry J. Lennix, Peter Coyote, Ryan McDonald; D: Rod Lurie; W: Michael Bortman, Allison Burnett; C: Adam Kane; M: Lawrence Nash Groupe.