I'm really amazed at some of the reviews I've read on this film. It's not the greatest boxing film ever made, still it portrays both the good and the seamier side of the sport. It's a low level Rocky with a touch of an old James Cagney-Pat O'Brien film, The Irish In Us.
The idea that even a top amateur can step into the ring with a ranked professional contender in his division and beat him is nonsense. What The Irish In Us had was James Cagney as the MANAGER stepping into the ring when his fighter is injured and beating the welterweight champion for the title. Next to that Split Decisions is positively realistic.
What's nice here is the relationship of the three generations of boxers in the McGuinn family. Grandfather John McLiam, Father Gene Hackman, and sons Craig Sheffer and Jeff Fahey. When Fahey stands up to mobster James Tolkan and refuses to throw a fight to his boy Eddie Velez, he's worked over and then accidentally killed. Sheffer steps in for his slain brother.
Though the McGuinns fight with each other a bit, they do stick together in a crisis. In its way Split Decisions is a boxing fantasy, much like the highly acclaimed Rocky. Not bad entertainment either.
This review is dedicated to McKennon Wimberly of the Professional Bull Riders who did some amateur boxing himself and shows the same heart riding bulls as Craig Sheffer did in this film.
The idea that even a top amateur can step into the ring with a ranked professional contender in his division and beat him is nonsense. What The Irish In Us had was James Cagney as the MANAGER stepping into the ring when his fighter is injured and beating the welterweight champion for the title. Next to that Split Decisions is positively realistic.
What's nice here is the relationship of the three generations of boxers in the McGuinn family. Grandfather John McLiam, Father Gene Hackman, and sons Craig Sheffer and Jeff Fahey. When Fahey stands up to mobster James Tolkan and refuses to throw a fight to his boy Eddie Velez, he's worked over and then accidentally killed. Sheffer steps in for his slain brother.
Though the McGuinns fight with each other a bit, they do stick together in a crisis. In its way Split Decisions is a boxing fantasy, much like the highly acclaimed Rocky. Not bad entertainment either.
This review is dedicated to McKennon Wimberly of the Professional Bull Riders who did some amateur boxing himself and shows the same heart riding bulls as Craig Sheffer did in this film.