As an Adrian Pasdar fan, I checked out Streets of Gold. But, the real star of the movie is Klaur Maria Brandauer who plays the main character, Alek. Alek is a boxing pro who defected from Russia when they wouldn't let him compete on the Russian Olympic team because he was Jewish.
Now, Alek comes to live in New York, although the racist and ethnic slurs haven't disappeared. He offers to coach two up and coming boxers, Timmy Boyle (Adrian Pasdar), a young Italian kid, and Roland Jenkins (Wesley Snipes), a young black man. One competitive opponents, these two guys eventually become friends, and with Alek's help, they become good enough to fight for the U.S. Olympic team.
The movie presents a meaningful story with a somewhat good view of boxing, although the story supercedes the action in the ring. Written, of course, during the Cold War, is a story of unity between a Russian and his acceptance and integration into the United States. On the other hand, it also looks at racial and ethnic divisions, not only as experienced by Jewish Alek, but also by Timmy and Roland who are initially reluctant to make friends because of this hatred.
The movie is only somewhat a good view of boxing, although most of the movie just shows the young men and their coach involved in training sessions while the only real fights the stars engage in is their primitive fighting scenes in the beginning and the final boxing matches for the Olympic team.
Klaus Maria Brandauer really steals the movie as Alek, the coach who is never really sure if coming to America was a good idea, until his ideals get to flourish through the success of his boxers (hence the tagline--"three visions, two boxers, one dream"). Adrian Padar fans won't want to miss this one as well. And Wesley Snipes gives a good performance too as the cocky Roland Jenkins.
Now, Alek comes to live in New York, although the racist and ethnic slurs haven't disappeared. He offers to coach two up and coming boxers, Timmy Boyle (Adrian Pasdar), a young Italian kid, and Roland Jenkins (Wesley Snipes), a young black man. One competitive opponents, these two guys eventually become friends, and with Alek's help, they become good enough to fight for the U.S. Olympic team.
The movie presents a meaningful story with a somewhat good view of boxing, although the story supercedes the action in the ring. Written, of course, during the Cold War, is a story of unity between a Russian and his acceptance and integration into the United States. On the other hand, it also looks at racial and ethnic divisions, not only as experienced by Jewish Alek, but also by Timmy and Roland who are initially reluctant to make friends because of this hatred.
The movie is only somewhat a good view of boxing, although most of the movie just shows the young men and their coach involved in training sessions while the only real fights the stars engage in is their primitive fighting scenes in the beginning and the final boxing matches for the Olympic team.
Klaus Maria Brandauer really steals the movie as Alek, the coach who is never really sure if coming to America was a good idea, until his ideals get to flourish through the success of his boxers (hence the tagline--"three visions, two boxers, one dream"). Adrian Padar fans won't want to miss this one as well. And Wesley Snipes gives a good performance too as the cocky Roland Jenkins.