08 Apr 2010
Two Fists One Heart On Showtime
08 Apr 2010
Two Fists One Heart - Screens at the 16th London Australian Film Festival
26 Aug 2009
Two Fists One Heart - out on DVD
10 Aug 2009
Daniel Amalm to host The Contender
25 Jul 2009
Daniel Amalm stars in Ch9 series
02 Jul 2009
Two Fists One Heart opens in NZ
05 May 2009
Jessica Marais wins Two Logies
26 Mar 2009
Variety reviews Two Fists One Heart
24 Mar 2009
Richard Wilkins reviews Two Fists One Heart
24 Mar 2009
Two Fists One Heart - more great reviews
Credits
More Reviews on Two Fists One Heart
Richard Brennan is an Australian Film Producer with a vast body of impressive work including Newsfront and Starstruck . This year Richard was awarded the Lifetime Achievement award from the Film Critics Circle for his ongoing support of Australian Film and Film Culture in Australia. Richard’s boxing career was as a middleweight and welterweight with a career record of 6 wins and 2 losses. Here he talks about Two Fists One Heart
TWO FISTS ONE HEART
Reviewed by Richard Brennan
I am partisan about this film in more ways than one. TWO FISTS ONE HEART deals with subject matter that I care about. It is a problematic film because a description of its elements could make it sound like a cliché. It is about heroism, and realising your potential, taking your best shot, sticking by your family. It could be clichéd and corny but it really works. You are emotionally involved and so you care.
Boxing was a passion of mine. As a student and later I often attended the old stadium at Rushcutters Bay to see Rocky Gattelari, Lionel Rose and a now forgotten fighter named Sid Prior. But it is a sport that revolts many people. Films that attempt to deal with boxing and to attract a large audience have a job ahead of them.
The most successful such film is ROCKY. I hope that audiences will respond to the energy and warmth of this new film. It has a lot to offer besides its brilliantly executed fight scenes.
It is very hard to make a good film. In Australia it only happens with a team that works together and is on top of its game. Producer David Elfick truly is remarkable. His numerous awards include the AFI Best Picture Award for NEWSFRONT and the Berlin Crystal Bear award for NO WORRIES. He has also collected top prizes from the Australian writer’s Guild (twice) as well as the International Catholic Film critic’s Award, the audience prize from the Rio de Janeiro Film Festival and Best Film at the Taormina Film Festival. From NEWSFRONT through STARSTRUCK, FIELDS OF FIRE, NO WORRIES, BLACK ROCK, NEVER TELL ME NEVER and RABBIT PROOF FENCE he has given us films that are energetic, well crafted and passionately Australian.
This is an eye-opening debut from Director Shawn Seet. I cannot remember the city of Perth appearing to such advantage in any previous feature film. And that city has a smaller talent pool than the Eastern capitals, which makes Shawn’s achievement even more meritorious. The performances are, mostly, terrific and the film is a great achievement on a technical level.
The screenplay by former champion boxer Rai Fazio is drawn from his own experiences and skilfully mingles a number of strands. The driving narrative deals with a guy whose skill with his fists can take him a long way. Behind this is the warmly observed depiction of his boisterous and passionate Italian family. The best “boxing” films often deal with redemption and that element is extremely well realised here.
I like the performances very much. David Amalm as Anthony is open, friendly and warm. His boxing skills are well beyond the level most actors can achieve and he radiates likeability and humility.
Jessica Marais makes a striking debut in what could have been an unrewarding part. Her character (Kate) is a psychology student. While warm and supportive she is quite unprepared to tolerate aggressive behaviour from Anthony. Jessica’s performance is fresh and very appealing.
Ennio Fantastichini plays Anthony’s authoritarian father Joe. I remember seeing him opposite Gian Maria Volonte about twenty years ago. The film was OPEN DOORS and Ennio played a minor fascist official on trial for murder. I grew into his performance as I did in this film. His best scenes are truly powerful.
The last couple of years in Australian cinema have unearthed several impressive child actors. The most remarkable for me were Joanna Hunt Prehovnik in 3 Dollars and Kodi Smit McPhee in ROMULUS, MY FATHER. In the last twelve months I have been most impressed by two actors. One is Brandon Walters in AUSTRALIA. The other is Karl Bin Rashid who plays a young aboriginal boxer in this film.
I won’t list all the performers but I must mention Rai Fazio who brings off the triple threat of Writer, Executive Producer and performer. Rai plays the good/bad guy Nico. Nico is tough and ready but possesses some inner decency. A bit like the character Ben Johnson plays in SHANE. He also has a very powerful left hook. As I watched the film for the second time I realised how much the electrifying final fight owes to Rai’s skill as a boxer. His performance is spot on and he has a powerful and dangerous presence that brought to mind Charles Bronson in THE STREETFIGHTER. Nico has done time in jail. For what we don’t know. As with Bronson’s character in the earlier film you don’t need to analyse or reflect on his background. He just is there.
The film thrusts the audience into a large family, which the mother is trying to hold together. For Joe, the father, there are two choices-his way or the highway. We see parties, meals, and religious services. Some of these scenes are truly operatic but in a good way like THE GODFATHER. For a while I thought the story might be swamped by too much melodrama in too little time. Eventually I found it exhilarating.
Everyone, including Pop, is convincing in the ring. Early on we learn that Anthony doesn’t look for trouble but his first encounter-a brawl with a huge standover man-persuades us that he has a gift for fighting.
The film pulses with energy and is extremely well made. Cameraman Hugh Miller and designer Sam Rickard have given the film a polished and appealing look. I was struck by an overhead shot of Kate walking away from a street fight in which Anthony has become embroiled. It lasts only a moment but the splashy colours and arresting composition are quite striking. Andrew Plain’s sound design is wonderful.
Neither Jim Braddock (CINDERELLA MAN) nor Rocky would ever get into street fights. Jake le Motta (RAGING BULL) and Rocky Graziano (SOMEBODY UP THERE LIKES ME) need only half an excuse. Anthony’s character falls midway on this scale. He does not look for trouble but he is too quick to let himself be drawn into fights. By the end of the film he seems to have matured a lot.
The fight between Anthony and Nico is one of the best that I have seen in a movie. Nico enters the ring, caged and caped, like Sonny Liston confronting the young Cassius Clay. The bout itself is exhilarating. Worthy to put alongside the climactic encounters in GENTLEMAN JIM, BODY AND SOUL and ROCKY.
I hope that TWO FISTS ONE HEART enjoys great success