Up-and-coming sports reporter rescues a homeless man ("Champ") only to discover that he is, in fact, a boxing legend believed to have passed away. What begins as an opportunity to resurrect Champ's story and escape the shadow of his father's success becomes a personal journey as the ambitious reporter reexamines his own life and his relationship with his family.
Acting
Sam Jackson disappears into physicality and fragility.
Writing
The true-story lie is more interesting than the film admits.
Director
Rod Lurie
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The film was inspired by a real 1997 Denver Post story about 'Champ' that the writer later admitted was largely fabricated — making this a movie about a fake true story that was itself based on a fake true story. Layers!
Rod Lurie directed this between his political thrillers, and it shows — every scene feels like it's building to a scandal that never quite arrives.
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